National Environmental Policy Plan for Latvia-climate change caused

	National Environmental Policy Plan for Latvia
	Transboundary air pollution

(This Web page is prepared within the framework of the BALLERINA initiative)

Climate change caused by the greenhouse gases (GG).

Atmospheric gas particles - both of natural and anthropogenic origin - that absorb and re-emit infrared rays are called ‘greenhouse gases’ (GG). It is considered that the increase of such gases in the atmosphere causes a natural greenhouse effect that leads to additional warming of the Earth’s surface and its atmosphere, and leaves a negative impact on natural ecosystems and mankind: changes of temperature directly influence precipitation cycles, wind direction and oceanic currents.

The UN general convention ‘On Climate Change’ has been developed with the aim to reduce emissions of GG. It is aimed at achieving stabilization of GG in the atmosphere to a level posing no dangerous anthropogenic influences on climatic systems.

Box 10. Greenhouse gases (GG)

The following are greenhouse gases: water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), dinitrogen oxide (N2O) and tropospheric ozone (O3), as well as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile compounds (NMVC), and CFCs that form greenhouse gases as a result of chemical reactions.

Targets*: from December 31, 1994 onwards, the level of NOx emissions produced in the country and the level of transmitted pollution entering the country should correspond to the levels of 1987; from the year 2000 onwards, the total amount of sulfurous oxides emissions should be below the level of 1980.

Measures for the solution of climate change problems caused by GG will be discussed together with the problems of regional transboundary air pollution.

____________

* Targets are formulated on the basis of the Geneva Convention of 1979, ‘On Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution’ and the UN Rio de Janeiro General Convention ‘On Climate Change’.

[ Content of topic | Next paragraph ]

Last updated: November 8, 1996. The information prepared by Valts Vilnitis: fuxis@varam.gov.lv

Please send Your requests and comments to Webmaster: Harijs.Baranovs@vdc.lv