Published: 27 Jul 2011
Emissions of almost all main air pollutants
fell across the EU-27 in 2009, according
to the latest annual European Union air
pollutant emission inventory report compiled
by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
Some pollutants decreased significantly
compared to the previous year, with analysis
showing economic recession to be an important
factor in this reduction. The drop was most
evident for sulphur oxides (SOx), with emissions
falling by 21 % between 2008 and 2009.
The annual EU-27 emission inventory reported
to the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE) Long-range Transboundary
Air Pollution (LRTAP) Convention confirms
a long-term trend of decline for most air
pollutants.
Sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions have fallen
the most since 11000 (–80 %), followed by
carbon monoxide (CO) (–62 %), non-methane
volatile organic
compounds (NMVOCs) (–55 %) and nitrogen
oxides (NOx)(–44 %).
For several pollutants the decline was particularly
sharp between 2008 and 2009. For example,
SOx emissions fell by 21 % mainly as a result
of the economic recession which led to reduced
energy demand and hence lower emissions
from public power plants in Bulgaria, Poland,
Romania and Spain. Similarly, emissions
of other key pollutants from the electricity
generating sector also fell significantly
in 2009 – for example, NOx and primary particulate
matter (PM) both by around 10 % between
2008 and 2009.
However, it is worth noting that although
emissions within the EU have fallen significantly,
air quality can still be quite low, particularly
in urban areas.
Other key findings
Emissions of NOx from road transport have
decreased by 42 % 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. Nevertheless, road
transport remains the most important source
of the ozone precursors NOx and CO, contributing
42 % and 34 % respectively in the EU-27
in 2009. Moreover, NOx emissions from road
transport have not decreased as much as
originally anticipated, as highlighted by
another recent EEA report.
In contrast to the road
transport sector, NOx emissions from aviation
have increased significantly since 11000.
Emissions from both domestic and international
aviation increased by 79 % between 11000
and 2009, however between 2008 and 2009
these emissions fell by 6%, reflecting lower
aviation activity as a result of the recession.
Large proportions of
certain pollutants come from so-called ‘diffuse’
sources, which are typically emitted over
large areas from often indistinct sources.
These can be difficult to abate, and include
NOx and primary particulate matter (PM)
from road transport, CO and PM from households,
and ammonia (NH3) from agriculture.
In addition, the report notes the difficulty
of compiling and comparing emission estimates
for the EU-27 when Member States do not
report complete data.
What is the LRTAP Convention?
The Convention on Long-range Transboundary
Air Pollution (LRTAP) aims to limit and,
as far as possible, gradually reduce and
prevent air pollution including long-range
transboundary air pollution. The 51 Parties
of the Convention, including the EU, are
obliged to report emissions data for a large
number of air pollutants. The main air pollutants
and their effect on human health and the
environment are listed here.
The EEA assists the EU by preparing the
emissions 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.
