s a major economic slowdown. Emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide became a problem after developed countries raised heights of industrial chimneys in the late 1960’s to disperse pollutants. Dispersed pollutants meant acid rain is exported to other countries. Transboundary Air Pollution, acid rain in one country caused by another, became an issue in the late 1960’s with Sweden introducing scientific evidence that the acidification of their lakes was from an outside source. Sweden’s efforts were advanced when they hosted the first UN environmental conference in Stockholm in 1972. (EPA)After the UN conference in Stockholm a major effort was started to reduce transboundary air pollution. OECD began monitoring of transboundary air pollution in Europe and completed in 1972, which completed the definition process. In 1977 there were monitoring programs sponsored by UN Economic Commission for Europe began. (UNEP) Victims of acid rain took initiative for stringent and binding regulations on emissions, which caused some, industrialized countries to form a veto coalition. The Veto coalition rejected any agreement that included special commitments to reduce emissions; they included the U.S., Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, and Denmark. The Convention of Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution concluded in Geneva in 1979 with thirty-five countries signing. The convention failed because without the support of industrialized countries no legislation could be regulated effectively. The Convention did set up an agreement to meet annually for review implementations. After the convention scientific evidence of damage to European forests and historical buildings the veto coalition began to change stance with Germany who belonged to the veto coalition. In 1983 was the first meeting of the signatory parties, Norway and Sweden proposed a thirty percent reduction of 1980 emission levels by 1983. Some states made unilate...
