Variations (1990-2021) in the emissions of pollutants from transport by mode in EU-27

Methodology

For CO, NOx, NMVOC, SOx, NH₃, PM10 and PM2.5, data officially reported to the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP)/LRTAP Convention were used. For CH₄ and N₂O data officially reported under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and also under the Kyoto Protocol (KP) were used.

Where a complete time series of emission data has not been reported for CO, NOx, NMVOC, SOx, NH₃, PM10 and PM2.5, data have been gap filled according to the methodologies of the European Environment Agency's (EEA's) European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change (ETC/ACC). Details of the gap-filling procedure for the air pollutant data set are described in the EU emission inventory report 1990-2019 under the UNECE's Convention on LRTAP (EEA Technical Report No 5/2021). Similarly, for CH₄ and N₂O additional information on the gap-filling procedure can be found in the Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory 1990-2020 and inventory report 2022 Submission to the UNFCCC Secretariat.

Units

Percentage

Additional information

• PM2.5/ PM10: particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of 2.5μm/10μm or less respectively
• NMVOCs: non-methane volatile organic compounds
• SOx: sulphur oxides
• NOx: nitrogen oxides
• CO: carbon monoxide
• NH₃: ammonia
• CH₄: methane
• N₂O: nitrous oxide

Light duty vehicles includes passenger cars and light commercial vehicles; heavy duty vehicles includes trucks and busses. See more details in the supporting information. Road transport PM emissions includes non-exhaust emissions from brakes and tyres, in all other case PM indicates exhaust emissions. Shipping international includes both maritime and inland waterways shipping. Aviation includes both cruise and landing/take-off.