1. Providing PRTR guidance and reporting
tools for international agreements on
chemical substances
October 2012

2. CONTENTS 2
1. Overview of Kiev Protocol and relevant
international conventions for a national PRTR
2. Optional systems of a PRTR (Kiev Protocol
Guidance)
3. PRTR as a tool to report POP and other
chemical specific international agreements
(including mercury) - relevant outcomes of the
UNEP-GEF-UNITAR project on POP reporting
through national PRTR systems
4. Accomplishments in Central America for a
regional PRTR & opportunities with the NAFTA
region
5. Importance on the comparability of PRTRs in
an international perspective - UNITAR PRTR
Guidance

3. PRTR Initiatives Map

4. RETC: una iniciativa mundial

6. Overview Kiev Protocol and relevant 6
International Conventions to PRTR
The PRTR Protocol was adopted at an extraordinary
meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, in
the framework of the fifth -“Environment -for-
Europe” Ministerial- Conference held in Kiev. It was
signed by 36 countries and the European Community.
The objective of this Protocol is to enhance public
access to information through the establishment of
coherent, integrated, nationwide pollutant release and
transfer registers (PRTRs) in accordance with the
provisions of this Protocol, which could facilitate public
participation in environmental decision-making as well
as contribute to the prevention and reduction of
pollution of the environment.

7. PRTRs – REGIONAL APPROACHES 7
• European PRTR (E-PRTR): one system gathering data from
European Member States and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
and Switzerland.
• North American PRTR: integrated data of Canada, Mexico and
USA, coordinated by the Commission for Environmental
Cooperation (CEC)
• Kiev Protocol on PRTR: under the framework of the United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) adopted by
the meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention in 2003 in
Kiev
• CCAD

8. PRTR Initiatives Map

9. Overview Kiev Protocol and relevant 9
International Conventions to PRTR (part 2)

10. PRTR Compliance with International Conventions 10
Chemical Specific Environmental Conventions

11. PRTR Compliance with International Conventions 11
Climate Change Convention and Kyoto Protocol

12. Conventions on POP (Persistant Organic Pollutants) and ODS (Ozone
12
Depleting Substances)

13. I AM…

14. Two-Track Approach 14

15. (for instance) PRTR as a tool to POP 15
reporting to the Stockholm convention
Updating of inventories is required by
Articles 5, 7 and 15
Subject to the provisions of Article 5 and Annex C of
the Stockholm Convention, Parties are required to:
 Identify, characterize, quantify and prioritize
sources of releases of Annex C chemicals
(PCDD/PCDF, PCB, HCB, PeCB)
 Develop strategies with measures, timelines and
goals to minimize these releases (action plans under
the NIP) considering the Guidelines on BAT&BEP
 Evaluate effectiveness of these strategies and report
such reviews in reports submitted pursuant to
Article 15

16. 16

17. 17

18. 18

19. 19

20. ESTABLISHING TRENDS IN POPs RELEASES OVER TIME
Updating of the inventory (for a particular reference year)
1. Examine initial/ 2. Review changes in 3. Compute releases
previous inventory data as compared with
initial/ previous
FACTORS inventory
INFLUENCING Identify the • Check for factors • If sources are
CHANGES IN approach: influencing changes reclassified and/or EF
• Classification of in releases over time have been revised:
RELEASES OVER sources and EF used assign new EF
• Check for accordingly
TIME, e.g.: • Information sources revised/new Toolkit • If source
• on activity rates EF
• Reclassify sources classification
Economic/demograph • Assumptions and
according to the unchanged: use the
present situation same EF
ic growth expert judgment
applied to fill the
• Changes in gaps
• Establish activity • Multiply EF with new
rates for the activity rates
technology e.g. reference year
phasing in BAT&BEP
•
Building, reconstructi FACTORS TRIGGERING THE NEED
on, or close down of TO REVISE INITIAL/PREVIOUS
production facilities INVENTORIES, e.g.:
•Toolkit EF have been changed or new EF
• Substitution of fuels added
and/or raw material •Approach has been changed (e.g.
• Introduction or assumptions/expert judgment)
reconstruction of •Activities/sources:
 were not identified in the
abatement techniques baseline
 were incorrectly classified
Revision of
the initial/previous
1. Correct and/or adjust
inventory
inventory
initial/previous
CONSISTENT
• Include missing information/
fill gaps
TIME TRENDS
•Use the revised set of EF
for computing releases /
apply the same
assumptions/expert
judgment as in the
updated inventory
Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm Conventions

21. Cooperation opportunities with 21
Central America

22. Accomplishments in Central America 22
for a regional PRTR

23. Importance on the comparability of PRTRs in 23
an international perspective and advances
UNITAR PRTR Guidance
In the coming years many more
PRTRs are expected to be
implemented throughout the world,
particularly in Central and South
American countries. While
regulatory in structure and
implementation, the TRI has created
a forum for the American industry,
communities, and government to
collaborate on best practices
regarding toxic chemicals. Similar
outcomes have evolved in other
countries that have established
PRTRs. At present, regional systems
have begun to complement single-
nation PRTRs.

24. Using PRTR data at diferent levels:
Chemical
Specific,
Facility
Specific Data

25. Pollutants realeses and transfers
REPORTE
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GAS II --------------
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I a
REPORTE
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b
III
REPORTE
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IV REPORTE
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III
REPORTE
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V
R. P.

26. UNITAR six steps methodology
National Infrastructure
Design of the
workshop to assessment
main PRTR
identify PRTR (existing
characteristics
goals capacity)
A national Development
PRTR of the national A pilot trial
workshop proposal

27. Thank You for your Attention
Luis R. Sánchez-Cataño
sanchezcatano@gmail.com
luis.sanchez@cinam.org.mx