Air pollutant emission limits exceeded in twelve EU Member States

For the first time, preliminary data recently reported to the EEA by Member States allow a comparison with the legally binding emission limits for 2010 set in the EU NEC Directive. The directive covers four main air pollutants: sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and ammonia (NH₃). These pollutants can cause respiratory problems, contribute to the acidification of soil and surface water, and damage vegetation. The ceilings set in the NEC directive were designed to reduce such adverse impacts by an agreed amount.

"These pollutants contribute to health problems and can also lead to economic losses and environmental damage," EEA Executive Director Prof. Jacqueline McGlade said. "The EEA data shows that many EU Member States missed the 2010 limits, so these countries will need to make further efforts to help reduce air pollution in Europe."

The pollutant for which most exceedances were registered was NO_x. Preliminary analysis shows eleven Member States exceeding their respective NOx ceilings (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden) (see Table 1).

The road transport sector is one of the main contributory factors behind the large number of NO_x exceedances, contributing approximately 40 % of total EU-27 NO_x emissions. Reductions of NO_x from this sector over the last 2 decades have not been as large as originally anticipated. This is partly because the sector has grown more than expected and partly because vehicle emission standards have not always delivered the anticipated level of NO_x reductions.

Spain was the only Member State to have exceeded three of its four emission ceilings under the NECD; followed by Germany with two exceedances. Finland exceeded its ammonia ceiling.

Table 1. Progress by EU Member States in meeting the 2010 emission ceilings set in the EU NEC Directive.

‘√' indicates that the emission ceiling has been achieved; ‘×’ indicates the ceiling has not been met.

NB: based on preliminary data.

Other European countries

Three EEA member countries which are not part of the EU (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) have similar emissions ceilings for 2010 set under the Gothenburg Protocol of the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) Convention. Liechtenstein reports it has missed its NO_x and NH₃ emissions ceilings, Norway its NO_x emission ceiling, while Switzerland has achieved its four ceilings (Table 2).

Table 2. Achievements by other EEA countries in meeting the 2010 emission ceilings set in the UNECE LRTAP Convention's Gothenburg Protocol.

NB: Liechtenstein has signed but not ratified the Gothenburg Protocol.

NEC Directive – next steps

In mid-2012, the EEA will publish two reports further analysing the data reported by the EU Member States and assessing how far original objectives for health and the environment defined in the NECD have been achieved.

The current review of EU air policy may lead to a revised NEC Directive containing stricter emission ceilings for 2020 in order to improve protection of health and the environment. For the first time, a ceiling for fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) could be introduced. In the absence of new legislation, however, the NEC Directive remains in force and requires countries to keep emissions below national ceilings in future years.

• An extract of the preliminary data reported by countries is available here.