Emissions of acidifying substances

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Topics: Air pollution ,

Assessment made on 01 Jan 2003

Note: new version is available!

Dec 13, 2012 - Emissions of acidifying substances (CSI 001) - Assessment published Dec 2012
Dec 21, 2011 - Emissions of acidifying substances (CSI 001) - Assessment published Dec 2011
Oct 25, 2010 - Emissions of acidifying substances (CSI 001) - Assessment published Oct 2010
Jan 26, 2010 - Emissions of acidifying substances (version 2) (CSI 001) - Assessment published Jan 2010
Dec 19, 2008 - Emissions of acidifying substances (version 2) (CSI 001) - Assessment published Dec 2008
Mar 07, 2008 - Emissions of acidifying substances (version 1) (CSI 001) - Assessment published Mar 2008
Dec 22, 2006 - Emissions of acidifying substances (version 1) (CSI 001) - Assessment published Dec 2006
Oct 21, 2005 - Emissions of acidifying substances (version 1) (CSI 001) - Assessment published Oct 2005

Generic metadata

Classification

Air pollution (Primary theme)

DPSIR: Pressure

Identification

Indicator codes

Geographical coverage:

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Contents

Policy issue: Are we reaching emission targets for acidifying substances?

Key messages

The EU15 emissions of acidifying substances have been reduced by 41% between 1990 and 2001. This significant reduction is mainly due to the increased levels of pollution abatement equipment e.g. flue gas desulphurisation, together with the use of low-sulphur fuels in power plants.

Figures

Emission trends of acidifying pollutants (ktonnes acid equivalent) for EEA31

Key assessment

Emissions of acidifying gases have decreased significantly in most EU Member States. In the EU emissions decreased by 41% between 1990 and 2001 despite an increase in gross domestic product (GDP) during this time. The decrease between 2000 and 2001 was 1.5%. Since 1990, the largest decrease in emissions has occurred in the energy industries sector, where emissions have been reduced by 60%. The most significant emission sources in 2001 were agriculture (31%), energy industries (26%), road transport (18%) and energy use in industry (11%). In 2001, the relative weighted contribution of sulphur emissions was 31%, NOx emissions 37% and NH3 emissions 32%.