transfrontier pollution

Above all, many drivers of the loss of biological and landscape diversity in Europe usually reach beyond the territorial boundaries of countries; this is the case with transfrontier pollution and climate change.

In order to address properly the question of the appropriate policy response to transfrontier pollution ("transnational externalities"), an international tax on emissions has been recommended, equal to the damage generated in all countries taken together.

Of special pertinence is the absence of an instrument establishing more precise general obligations on the protection of nature, a threshold for acceptable transfrontier pollution, a requirement to apply the precautionary principle, and to promote sustainable development.

The question of the "general obligations of states to apply the precautionary principle and promote sustainable development, protect the environment and prevent transfrontier pollution" was raised in Recommendation 1431 (1999) adopted by the Standing Committee in November 1999.

There is still no global convention following the Rio Declaration on sustainable development (1992) that would impose general obligation on states to apply the precautionary principle and to respect the need for a sustainable development, to protect nature and prevent transfrontier pollution.