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Published: 12 Jul 2010
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 11000.
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 reported 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 11000s
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 11000, mainly due to the introduction
of three-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 11000,
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
11000, 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.
