Emissions of the acidifying pollutants (nitrogen oxides (NO X ), sulphur oxides (SO X ) and ammonia (NH 3 ) have decreased significantly in most of the individual EEA member countries between 1990 and 2009. Emissions of SO X have decreased by 76%, NO X by 41% and NH 3 emissions by 26% since 1990.
The EU-27 is on track to meet its overall target to reduce emissions of SO X and NH 3 as specified by the EU’s National Emissions Ceiling Directive (NECD). However a number of individual Member States, and the EU as a whole, anticipates missing their NECD 2010 emission ceilings for NO X .
Of the three non-EU countries having emission ceilings for 2010 under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), both Liechtenstein and Norway reported NO X emissions in 2009 that were substantially higher than their respective 2010 ceilings.
Emissions of the main ground-level ozone precursor pollutants have decreased across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2009; nitrogen oxides (NO X ) by 41%, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) by 51%, carbon monoxide (CO) by 61%, and methane (CH 4 ) by 27%.
This decrease has been achieved mainly as a result of the introduction of catalytic converters for vehicles. These changes have significantly reduced emissions of NO X and CO from the road transport sector, the main source of ozone precursor emissions.
The EU-27 is still some way from meeting its 2010 target to reduce emissions of NO X , one of the two ozone precursors (NO X and NMVOC) for which emission limits exist under the EU’s National Emissions Ceiling Directive (NECD). Whilst total NMVOC emissions in the EU-27 were below the NECD limit in 2009, a number of individual Member States anticipate missing their ceilings for one or either of these two pollutants.
Of the three non-EU countries having emission ceilings for 2010 set under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), all three countries reported NMVOC emissions in 2009 that were lower than their respective 2010 ceilings. However both Liechtenstein and Norway reported NO X emissions in 2009 that were substantially higher than their respective 2010 ceilings.
EEA-32 emissions of NH 3 have declined by 26% between the years 1990 and 2009. Agriculture was responsible for 94% of NH 3 emissions in 2009.
The reduction in emissions within the agricultural sector is primarily due to a reduction in livestock numbers (especially cattle) since 1990, changes in the handling and management of organic manures and from the decreased use of nitrogenous fertilisers. The reductions achieved in the agricultural sector have been marginally offset by the increased emissions which have occurred during this period in transport sectors and to a lesser extent the ‘Solvent and product use’ sector.
In general, Member States have made excellent progress in reducing emissions below the level of their respective emission ceilings set in the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD). Preliminary data released by EEA in February 2011 show that 26 of the 27 EU Member States report that they have achieved their ceilings. Finland is the only Member State which has exceeded its 2010 ceiling.
Three non-EU countries have emission ceilings set under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (i.e. Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). The preliminary data recently received from these countries indicates only Liechtenstein has not met its 2010 emission ceiling.
Environmental context: NH 3 contributes to acid deposition and eutrophication. The subsequent impacts of acid deposition can be significant, including adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems in rivers and lakes and damage to forests, crops and other vegetation. Eutrophication can lead to severe reductions in water quality with subsequent impacts including decreased biodiversity, changes in species composition and dominance, and toxicity effects. NH 3 also contributes to the formation of secondary particulate aerosols, an important air pollutant due to its adverse impacts on human health.
Agricultural Areas
Potential increase in crop production under an adaptation scenario
Present and projected water limitation of crop primary production in Europe under rain-fed conditions
Changes of the flowering date for winter planted wheat between 1975 and 2007
Proportion of each land cover flows in the total amount of land cover changes observed in mountainous regions.
Differences in land use change (farmland abandonment and logging) among countries and ownership
Comparison of the distribution of land cover changes according to the LEAC land cover flow classification in mountain massifs, between EU-15 members (excluding Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, Sweden) and new EU-27 members (excluding Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.)
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