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The European Union air pollutant emission inventory report,
compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that
the EU-27 has cut sulphur oxides (SOx)
emissions by 78% since 1990.
The decline was particularly sharp during the latest reporting
year, falling 20% in 2008 compared to 2007. The emissions
of three ozone precursors - CO, NMVOCs and NOx
- also continued the downward trend.
The annual EU-27 Emission Inventory Report
under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) Convention,
confirms that emissions of most air pollutants continue to
decline.
SOx is an important air pollutant that
acidifies ecosystems and forms harmful fine particulate matter
in the atmosphere. Since the early 1990s, a combination of
measures has helped reduce emissions - including introducing
low sulphur fuels and fitting pollution control equipment
in European industrial facilities.
Lower emissions from public power plants in Bulgaria, Poland
and Spain contributed to the 20% annual emission reduction
in 2008. Spain, for example, reduced its SOx
emissions by using less coal to generate electricity and,
instead, relying on natural gas and renewables such as wind,
photovoltaics and biomass.
CO, NMVOCs and NOx are main contributors
to the formation of ground-level ozone - a harmful pollutant
that can trigger respiratory problems, contribute to premature
mortality and also damage plants, reducing agricultural crop
yields. EU-27 emissions of these ozone precursors fell in
2008 in a number of Member States - including France, Spain
and UK - particularly from public power plants. Emissions
from road transport also fell significantly in these Member
States, partly reflecting reduced freight transport on roads
in the second half of 2008 due to economic recession.
Other key findings -
- In 2008, EU-27 emissions of fine particulate matter fell
by 13% (PM2.5) and 8% (PM10)
compared to 2000. Emission trends have not improved much
in the last five years, with emissions actually increasing
slightly (by 0.2%) in 2008 compared to the previous year.
- NOx emissions from road transport
have decreased by 40% since 1990, mainly due to the introduction
of 3-way catalytic converters in passenger cars and stricter
regulation of emissions from heavy goods vehicles across
Europe. Road transport, nevertheless, remains the most important
source of the ozone precursors NOx
and CO, contributing 41% and 34% of EU-27 emissions in 2008.
- In contrast to the road transport sector, NOx
emissions from aviation have increased significantly. Since
1990, the share of total EU-27 emissions that derive from
domestic and international flights has trebled to more than
5%.
- For the first time, the annual EU inventory report also
presents information on emissions of toxic heavy metals.
EU-27 emissions of mercury, cadmium and lead have dropped
by 60% or more since 1990, reflecting improved control of
emissions from sources such as electricity production, industry
and road transport. However, the rate of decrease in total
emissions of these three toxic heavy metals has slowed over
the last five years.
To view graphics outlining EU-27 emission trends for the
main air pollutants, particulate matter and heavy metals (European
Union air pollutant emission inventory report - p.7)
- Click
Here
What is the LRTAP Convention?
The Convention on Long-range Transboundary
Air Pollution (LRTAP)
addresses some of the major environmental problems caused
by air pollution in the member countries of the United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
The Convention has 51 Parties and aims to limit and - as far
as possible - gradually reduce and prevent air pollution,
including long-range transboundary air pollution.
The EEA assists the EU by preparing the inventory to be reported
under the LRTAP Convention each year.
Air pollutant emissions data viewer
The EEA publishes the data
from the inventory report in the air
pollutant emissions data viewer
- a searchable web-based interface that simplifies access
and analysis. The data viewer shows emission trends and graphics
for the main sectors and allows comparison of emissions from
different countries and activities.
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