The Environmental Atlas

Emissions of ozone precursors (CSI 002) - Assessment published Dec 2011: 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.
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Ammonia (NH3) emissions (APE 003) - Assessment published Dec 2011: 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.
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EU GHG emissions from agriculture per sector and per gas, 1990–2008: The sectors presented here correspond to the following IPCC categories: Agricultural soils = CRF 4D, Enteric fermentation = CRF 4A, Manure management = CRF 4B, Other (rice cultivation and field burning of agricultural residues) = CRF 4C+4F. Emissions from fuel combustion in the agriculture sector are reported under the energy sector (CRF 1A4c).
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Drivers of N2O emissions from EU agricultural soils, 1990–2008: -
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Decomposition analysis of N2O emission trends from EU agricultural soils, 1990–2008: Each bar shows the contribution of a single driver on GHG emission trends during a determined period. The thick short black lines indicate the combined effect of all emission drivers, i.e. the overall GHG emission trend during the period considered.
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Drivers of CH4 emissions from enteric fermentation of cattle in the EU, 1990–2008: -
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Absolute change and average annual relative change of GHG emissions from agriculture in the EU, 1990-2008: Countries sorted according to absolute change between 1990 and 2008. Average annual relative change (%) = (last year/base year)(1/number of years) – 1.
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Agricultural Areas in Europe: Agricultural Areas
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Common Agricultural Policy reform – reducing the impact of farming: Today, the European Commission launched its proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2013. The key objective is ‘to strengthen the competitiveness, sustainability and permanence of agriculture throughout the EU in order to secure for European citizens a healthy and high-quality source of food, preserve the environment and develop rural areas’. The proposals tie financial support more closely to environmental goals.
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Increasing fragmentation of landscape threatens European wildlife: Roads, motorways, railways, intensive agriculture and urban developments are breaking up Europe’s landscapes into ever-smaller pieces, with potentially devastating consequences for flora and fauna across the continent, according to a new joint report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). The report, 'Landscape fragmentation in Europe', demonstrates how areas of land are often unable to support high levels of biodiversity when they are split into smaller and smaller parcels.
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