International Context for PRTRs Jim Willis, Director UNEP Chemicals

Chapter 19 of Agenda 21 Emissions inventories/right-to-know referred to in several programme areas - – –Programme area C calls on governments and intergovernmental organizations to “improve databases and information systems on toxic chemicals, such as emission inventory programmes” – –Programme area D calls on governments to “adopt, on a voluntary basis, community right-to-know programmes… and reporting on annual routine emissions of toxic chemicals to the environment” – –Programme area E calls on governments to “consider adoption of community right-to-know programmes”

Activities since Rio OECD Guidance for Governments OECD Guidance for Governments IOMC PRTR Coordinating Group IOMC PRTR Coordinating Group IFCS endorsement IFCS endorsement Country-based projects (UNEP, UNITAR) Country-based projects (UNEP, UNITAR) UNECE Aarhus Convention UNECE Aarhus Convention Regional initiatives, e.g., North America, European Union Regional initiatives, e.g., North America, European Union Training/workshops/conferences Training/workshops/conferences WSSD – encourages « development of coherent and integrated information on chemicals, such as through national pollutant release and transfer registers » WSSD – encourages « development of coherent and integrated information on chemicals, such as through national pollutant release and transfer registers »

Can PRTRs be relevant to MEAs implementation? Montreal Protocol (ozone) Montreal Protocol (ozone) Rotterdam Convention (PIC) Rotterdam Convention (PIC) Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) Basel Convention (waste) Basel Convention (waste) Stockholm Convention (persistent organic pollutants) Stockholm Convention (persistent organic pollutants)

Key PRTR Elements Community Right-to Know Community Right-to Know Direct Environmental Releases, e.g., Direct Environmental Releases, e.g., –Air –Water –Underground Injection –Land Wastes, e.g., Wastes, e.g., –Off-site releases –On-site releases

Possible MEA Elements where PRTRs can Help Emissions inventories Emissions inventories Materials balance and tracking Materials balance and tracking Public information Public information Compliance monitoring Compliance monitoring Compliance assistance Compliance assistance Public/private partnerships Public/private partnerships

Montreal Protocol Treaty deals with direct phase-outs of ODSs Treaty deals with direct phase-outs of ODSs Limited “direct” usefulness of a PRTR Limited “direct” usefulness of a PRTR A PRTR can provide “supporting” uses, e.g., A PRTR can provide “supporting” uses, e.g., –Possible compliance monitoring or assurance tool –A different look – i.e. ODS environmental releases, as opposed to amounts manufactured or used.

Rotterdam Convention Convention deals with trade in dangerous pesticides and industrial chemicals Convention deals with trade in dangerous pesticides and industrial chemicals Limited “direct” usefulness of a PRTR Limited “direct” usefulness of a PRTR A PRTR can provide: A PRTR can provide: –Help in getting a broader view of PIC chemicals (facility releases) –Compliance monitoring and assurance –Stakeholder engagement May be related to Article 15 “registers” May be related to Article 15 “registers”

Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) Convention deals with global warming Convention deals with global warming Covers greenhouse gases, esp. through its Kyoto Protocol Covers greenhouse gases, esp. through its Kyoto Protocol A PRTR can provide: A PRTR can provide: –Release inventories for GHGs –Targets for clean development and energy efficiency opportunities –Public/stakeholder involvement

Basel Convention Convention deals with wastes Convention deals with wastes –Transboundary movements –Environmentally sound management A PRTR can: A PRTR can: –Provide materials balance at the facility level (e.g., on-site/off-site waste transfers) –Indicate where facilities can apply waste minimization techniques –Indicate waste management facilities that need attention

Stockholm Convention Convention deals with releases of POPs Convention deals with releases of POPs Article 10 paragraph 5 – “Each Party shall give sympathetic consideration to developing mechanisms, such as pollutant release and transfer registers, for the collection and dissemination of information on estimates of the annual quantities of the chemicals listed in Annex A, B or C that are released or disposed of.” Article 10 paragraph 5 – “Each Party shall give sympathetic consideration to developing mechanisms, such as pollutant release and transfer registers, for the collection and dissemination of information on estimates of the annual quantities of the chemicals listed in Annex A, B or C that are released or disposed of.”

Stockholm Convention (2) Releases of dioxins/furans Releases of dioxins/furans –Release estimates –Targets for Best Available Techniques and Best Environmental Practices (BAT/BEP) Facility-related releases of POPs pesticides Facility-related releases of POPs pesticides Quantities of POPs in wastes Quantities of POPs in wastes Compliance monitoring and assurance Compliance monitoring and assurance Targets for research, development and monitoring (Article 11) Targets for research, development and monitoring (Article 11) Public/stakeholder involvement Public/stakeholder involvement National Implementation Plans (NIPs) (Article 7) National Implementation Plans (NIPs) (Article 7)

Crosscutting Issues A single tool can be used for many MEAs – in addition to national uses A single tool can be used for many MEAs – in addition to national uses Can help create a more integrated environmental programme Can help create a more integrated environmental programme Resource leveraging Resource leveraging Building public involvement and stakeholder participation Building public involvement and stakeholder participation May also help regional agreements, e.g., Cartegena Convention May also help regional agreements, e.g., Cartegena Convention

Funding mechanisms Bilateral assistance Bilateral assistance Multilateral fund (ozone) Multilateral fund (ozone) Global Environment Facility (Stockholm Convention, FCCC) Global Environment Facility (Stockholm Convention, FCCC) –PRTRs integrated into projects –« General Chemicals Management » Basel technical cooperation trust fund Basel technical cooperation trust fund

Summary PRTRs should – first and foremost – be designed to meet national priorities, but PRTRs should – first and foremost – be designed to meet national priorities, but They can also support country goals in implementing MEAs They can also support country goals in implementing MEAs Stockholm Convention explicitly refers to PRTRs and PRTRs should be considered as part of the Stockholm Convention NIP Stockholm Convention explicitly refers to PRTRs and PRTRs should be considered as part of the Stockholm Convention NIP External sources of funding are likely to be extremely limited, and tapping in would require imagination and creativity External sources of funding are likely to be extremely limited, and tapping in would require imagination and creativity Unless a PRTR is a political priority, progress is likely to be very limited. Unless a PRTR is a political priority, progress is likely to be very limited.