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Nitrogen oxide emissions still a major problem in Europe
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Air pollution emitted from sources such as traffic, industry and households is still above internationally agreed limits in many European countries, according to data published today. The accompanying report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) confirms an initial assessment published earlier this year, showing 12 EU Member States exceeded limits under the National Emissions Ceilings (NEC) Directive in 2010.
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News
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National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive Inventory
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Data on emissions of air pollutants (NH3, NMVOC, NOX, SO2) reported annually by Member States to the European Commission (with copies to EEA) under Directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on National Emission Ceilings for certain pollutants.
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Datasets
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National emissions reported to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention)
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Data on emissions of air pollutants submitted to the LRTAP Convention and copied to EEA and ETC/ACC
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Datasets
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NEC Directive status report 2008
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Publications
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National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive Inventory
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Data on emissions of air pollutants (NH3, NMVOC, NOX, SO2) reported annually by Member States to the European Commission (with copies to EEA) under Directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on National Emission Ceilings for certain pollutants.
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Datasets
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Contribution to total change in non-methane volatile organic compounds emissions for each sector (EEA member countries)
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Chart showing sector contribution in the total percentage change of NMVOC emissions between 1990 and 2007.
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Maps and graphs
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Change in non-methane volatile organic compounds emissions for each sector between 1990 and 2007 (EEA member countries)
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Chart showing percentage change of NMVOC emissions between 1990 and 2007, detail is shown by sectors.
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Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions (APE 004) - Assessment published Oct 2010
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EEA-32 emissions of non-methane
volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) have decreased by 45% since 1990. In 2008,
the most significant sources of NMVOC emissions were the Solvent and product
use' sector (36%) (comprising activities such as paint application,
dry-cleaning and other use of solvents), followed by the road transport sector
(17%). The decline in emissions since
1990 has primarily been due to reductions achieved in the road transport sector
due to the introduction of vehicle catalytic converters and carbon canisters on
petrol cars, for evaporative emission control driven by tighter vehicle
emission standards, combined with limits on the maximum volatility of petrol
that can be sold in EU Member States, as set in fuel quality directives. The reductions in NMVOC emissions have been
enhanced by the switching from petrol to diesel cars in some EU countries, and changes
in the Solvents and product use' sector (a result of the introduction of
legislative measures limiting for example the use and emissions of solvents). The EU-27 Member States have, in
general, made good progress towards reducing emissions in line with their
obligations under the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD). Nineteen
Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus,
the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland,
Greece, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
the Netherlands, Poland, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden,
and the United Kingdom)
have already reduced their national NMVOC emissions below the level of the
emission ceilings set in the NECD. However, three Member States (Denmark,
Germany and Spain) reported 2008 emissions significantly above their respective
emission ceilings and therefore require significant reductions to have been
made in 2009 and 2010 in order to comply with the NECD. Emissions in 2008 for the three
non-EU countries having emission ceilings set under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg
protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) were all well below their
respective ceilings. Environmental context: Non-methane volatile
organic compounds (NMVOCs) are a collection of organic compounds that differ
widely in their chemical composition but display similar behaviour in the atmosphere.
NMVOCs are emitted into the atmosphere from a large number of sources including
combustion activities, solvent use and production processes. NMVOCs contribute
to the formation of ground level (tropospheric) ozone. In addition, certain
NMVOC species such as benzene and 1,3 butadiene are hazardous to human health.
Quantifying the emissions of total NMVOCs provides an indicator of the
emissions of the most hazardous NMVOCs.
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Data and maps
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Indicators
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Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions
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Emissions of ozone precursors (CSI 002) - Assessment published Oct 2010
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Emissions of all ground-level ozone precursor
pollutants have decreased across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2008; nitrogen
oxides (NO X ) by 34%, non-methane volatile organic compounds
(NMVOCs) by 45%, carbon monoxide (CO) by 56% and methane (CH 4 )
by 26%.
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 NEC Directive (NECD). Whilst total NMVOC emissions in the
EU-27 were below the NECD limit in 2008, 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 set under the
UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein,
Norway and Switzerland),
all three countries reported NMVOC emissions in 2008 that were lower than their
respective 2010 ceilings. However both Liechtenstein
and Norway
reported NO x emissions in 2008 that were substantially higher than
their respective 2010 ceilings.
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Emissions of ozone precursors
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EEA-32 Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions (APE 004) - Assessment published Feb 2010
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EEA-32 emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) have decreased by 41% since 1990. In 2007, the most significant sources of NMVOC emissions were the 'other (non energy)' sector (37%) (comprising activities such as paint application, dry-cleaning and other use of solvents), followed by the road transport sector (15%). The decline in emissions since 1990 has primarily been due to reductions achieved in the road transport sector (due to the introduction of vehicle catalytic converters and the switching from petrol to diesel cars) and in the 'other (non-energy)' sector (a result of the introduction of legislative measures limiting for example the use and emissions of solvents). The EU-27 Member States have, in general, made good progress towards reducing emissions in line with their obligations under the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD). Sixteen Member States (Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) have already reduced their national NMVOC emissions below the level of the emission ceilings set in the NECD. However, three Member States (France Germany, Spain and Portugal) have emissions still significantly above their respective emission ceilings and thus must make significant reductions over the coming years if they are to comply with the NECD. Environmental context: Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) are a collection of organic compounds that differ widely in their chemical composition but display similar behaviour in the atmosphere. NMVOCs are emitted into the atmosphere from a large number of sources including combustion activities, solvent use and production processes. NMVOCs contribute to the formation of ground level (tropospheric) ozone. In addition, certain NMVOC species such as benzene and 1,3 butadiene are hazardous to human health. Quantifying the emissions of total NMVOCs provides an indicator of the emissions of the most hazardous NMVOCs.
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Data and maps
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Indicators
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EEA-32 Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions