Links

• to the website

The Coordination Centre for Effects (CCE) was established by the Dutch Ministry of the Environment (VROM) and began its work in 1990. The CCE supports the work of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). 

The CCE scientifically assesses the risks, expressed as critical thresholds, to forests, lakes and other ecosystems in Europe caused by (long-range) air pollution. This information, which is also summarised in maps of critical thresholds, is useful to understand how national air pollution abatement measures can reduce these risks to ecosystems anywhere in Europe. It also contributed in a novel manner to the scientific support of European air pollution reduction policies. In addition to data on national emissions and costs of emission reductions, now also benefits - in terms of the reduction of risks to ecosystems - could be quantified since the CCE started its work in 1990 in collaboration with a network of National Focal Centres. The use of this information in integrated assessment models enables the policy analysis of cost-effective emission reductions in Europe. Results have primarily been used to support effects-based air pollution reduction policies under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. The first effect-based LRTAP protocol on "Further Reduction of Sulfur Emissions" (signed in Oslo, 1994) and the later multi-pollutant multi-effects protocol "to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone" (signed in Gothenburg, 1999)  benefited from this scientific support.

Besides information about the work of the CCE, the website contains a list of publications, some of which can be obtained as PDF-downloads from this site or upon request from the CCE.