Distr.
GENERAL
FCCC/NC/14
14 December 1995
ENGLISH
Original: FRENCH
In accordance with decision 9/2 of the Intergovernmental
Negotiating Committee for a Framework Convention on Climate Change
(INC/FCCC), the interim secretariat is to make available, in the
official languages of the United Nations, the executive summaries of
the national communications submitted by annex I
Parties.
Note: Executive summaries of national communications issued
prior to the first session of the Conference of the Parties bear the
symbol A/AC.237/NC/...
GE.95-64666 (E)
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Introduction
1. The Principality of Monaco has acceded to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, concluded in New York on 9
May 1992, which it has also ratified (Royal Order No. 11.260 of 9 May
1994).
General policy and measures adopted pursuant to the
Convention
2. Since 1991 the Principality of Monaco has implemented a
comprehensive policy to combat air pollution, including direct and
indirect restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions, by means of the
following measures:
(a) The adoption of legislative instruments designed to limit air
pollution (Royal Order No. 10.571 of 9 June 1992 on measures to
combat air pollution from fixed installations and Royal Order No.
10.689, of 22 October 1992 on measures to combat air pollution caused
by land vehicles).
(b) The installation of scrubbers (wet lime-slurry scrubbers) at
its household waste incineration plant, which complement the
electrostatic precipitator systems and which have, specifically
reduced discharges of hydrochloric acid from 600 mg/Nm3 to
approximately 1 mg/Nm3. In December 1993 and June 1994
authorized agencies measured pollutants in the plant's gaseous
emissions in order to check the efficiency of the purification
systems.
(c) The introduction of an air pollution monitoring network, which
currently comprises five monitoring stations located at points
selected for their representativeness, i.e.:
(i) One station in a street with heavy traffic;
(ii) Three stations at locations affected to varying degrees by
road traffic;
(iii) One benchmark station in a location hardly affected by
traffic (a public park close to the sea).
3. This completely automated network of monitoring stations
permits continuous monitoring of fluctuations in the atmospheric
concentration of several pollutants, some of which are precursors of
greenhouse gases, namely:
Nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide (NOx)
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Ozone (O3)
Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
Atmospheric dust.
4. The results of the measurements are transmitted to a central
station equipped with a powerful computer, which in particular allows
the concentrations measured to be compared with conventional
meteorological parameters and with the traffic data
available.
5. The public is regularly informed of the results of the
measurements through the local press and television, to which the
average concentrations recorded are transmitted each day, and
compared with air quality norms which are stricter than current
European ones.
6. A vehicle technical testing centre has been established where
it is possible, inter alia, to check the opacity of exhaust
gases and their carbon monoxide content using standard methods. If
the carbon monoxide content of exhaust gases is higher than 4.5 per
cent by volume, or if their opacity exceeds a limit based on the
vehicle's category, the vehicle's owner is required to have the
necessary adjustments made within a fortnight after the infringement
is noted.
7. Increased use of electric vehicles: in 1990 the Principality
joined the European Association of Cities Interested in the Use of
Electric Vehicles (CITELEC), and its Government endeavours as far as
possible to assign electric vehicles to public services.
8. Measures to increase public awareness: in 1993 the departments
concerned carried out two public awareness campaigns to convince the
Principality's inhabitants of the drawbacks of using private vehicles
in town and encourage them to use public transport. Attention was
also drawn to the health benefits of walking. In March 1993 a
brochure was published on the topic and widely distributed among the
population. In October 1993 an "Environment Day" was organized. The
buses were free on the day and an exhibition of two-wheeled electric
vehicles generated keen public interest. The Monaco International
Fair in October 1994 provided another opportunity to present electric
vehicles successfully to the public.
Assessment of greenhouse gas emissions and
eliminations
9. In conformity with the recommendations of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change, the greenhouse gases to be studied as a
matter of priority are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane
(CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).
10. Where CO2 emissions are concerned, the main sources
of pollution in Monaco are gaseous effluents from the household waste
incineration plant and automobile traffic. CO2 is also
released by domestic and public heating. However, as the Principality
enjoys an exceptionally mild winter climate, CO2 emissions
from heating should be extremely limited. As there are no cement
works or other heavy industries in Monaco, other sources of
CO2 may be considered negligible.
11. It is hard to quantify CO2 emissions from mobile
sources, i.e. vehicle engines. Emissions depend on the type of engine
(petrol or diesel), the carburettor setting and the engine
temperature. In Monaco, automobile traffic is essentially urban, and
consequently involves a large number of cold starts and short
journeys during which engines fail to warm up.
12. However, it is possible to quantify emissions from fixed
sources such as Monaco's household waste incineration plant. For a
number of years the plant's emissions of CO2, CO,
H2O, NO, SO2 and HCl have been continuously
monitored. As the volume of gaseous discharges is known, it has been
possible to estimate the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2)
released by the plant at approximately 70,500 tonnes per year
(70.5 Gg per year) since the installation of the
scrubbers.
13. No data are currently available in Monaco on the possibility
of eliminating carbon dioxide naturally. The proximity of the sea,
the provision of numerous public parks and the presence of wooded
areas on the mountains overlooking the western part of Monaco, where
the incineration plant is located, probably mean that natural
elimination of carbon dioxide in the immediate vicinity of the
Principality is far from negligible.
14. Where other greenhouse gases (CH4 and
N2O) are concerned, there are currently no data in Monaco
on emissions or on the possibility of eliminating them. However, in
view of the absence of an oil industry and intensive agriculture, it
may be assumed that emissions of these gases are negligible on a
world scale.
Projections for the future
15. In the light of Monaco's economic and demographic prospects in
the coming years, emissions of CO2 from its incineration
plant are unlikely to increase significantly between now and the year
2000. Emissions of CO2 from motor vehicles are likely to
fall significantly on account of the various measures taken in this
respect, which are described above. Emissions of methane
(CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) should remain
negligible.