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Indicator Assessment
With the exception of NH3, transport related emissions of all main contributors to acidification and particulate and ozone formation (CO, CH4, NH3, NOx, NMVOCs, SOx and primary particulates (PM10 and PM2.5)) decreased in the EEA-32 between 1990 and 2008. The maximum of transport related NH3 emissions in the EEA-32 was reached in 2000. NH3 contributes to both acidification and particulate formation.
Transport emissions of acidifying substances in EEA member countries
Note: Transport emissions of acidifying substances (NOx, SOx, NH3) in EEA member countries. The transport emissions data include all of road transport and other transport/mobile sources, less the memo items, which include international aviation (LTO (Landing and Take Off) and cruise) and international marine (international sea traffic- bunkers).
Transport emissions of primary and secondary particulates in EEA member countries
Note: Transport emissions of emissions of primary and secondary particulates (NH3, NOx, PM10, PM2.5, SOx) in EEA member countries. The transport emissions data include all of road transport and other transport/mobile sources, less the memo items, which include international aviation (LTO (Landing and Take Off) and cruise) and international marine (international sea traffic- bunkers).
Transport emissions of ozone precursors in EEA member countries
Note: Transport emissions of ozone precursors (CH4, CO, NMVOC, NOx) in EEA member countries. The transport emissions data include all of road transport and other transport/mobile sources, less the memo items, which include international aviation (LTO (Landing and Take Off) and cruise) and international marine (international sea traffic- bunkers).
In the EEA-32 transport
emissions of SOx and NOx were reduced by 68 and 32 %
respectively between 1990 and 2008. The introduction of both catalytic converters and
reduced sulphur in fuels has contributed substantially to this reduction,
offsetting the pressure from increased road traffic in the same period. For the
EEA-32 NH3 emissions from transport contributed only 2 % to
total NH3 emissions in 2008. However, transport related NH3
emissions increased by 330 % in the EEA-32 between 1990 and. The NH3 emissions
from road transport, have been rising as a result of the increasing use of three-way
catalytic converters in the vehicle fleet (this is due to an unwanted reaction
involving hydrogen which reduces NO to NH3). However, emissions are
projected to fall in the future as the second generation of catalysts (which
emit lower levels of NH3 than the first generation catalysts)
penetrate the vehicle fleet.
The EU-27 contributed
89, 87 and 96 % to transport related NOx, SOx and NH3
emissions of the EEA-32.
Within the group of the ozone
precursors (CH4, NOx, NMVOC and CO) transport emissions
of all pollutants decreased (64, 32, 72 and 71 % respectively) in the
EEA-32 between 1990 and 2008. Reductions have occurred mainly because of
increasing prevalence of catalytic converters for road vehicles and as a result
of tightening of EU regulations on new vehicle emissions limits.
The EU-27 contributed
87, 89, 82 and 89 % to transport related CH4,CO, NMVOC and NOx
emissions of the EEA-32.
The secondary inorganic
particulates (NOx, SOx and NH3) precursors are the same as the
acidifying substances. Their trends are described above. In the EEA-32 transport
emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 were reduced by 21 and
31 % respectively between 1990 and 2008. Particulate filters contributed to the reduction of
primary particulates from transport.
The EU-27 contributed 97
and 98 % to transport related PM10 and PM2.5 emissions
of the EEA-32.
This indicator is based on the assessment of emissions trends of CO, NOx, NMVOCs, SOx and primary particulates.
Emissions are expressed as a percentage of 1990 levels (except for PM emissions, which are expressed as a percentage of 2000 levels).
Directive 2008/50/EC (EC, 2008) sets limit values for the atmospheric concentrations of the main pollutants, including sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), airborne PM (PM10 and PM2.5), lead, CO, benzene and ozone (O3) for EU Member States. These limits are related to transport implicitly, but the introduction of progressively stricter Euro emissions standards and fuel quality standards has led to substantial reductions in air pollutant emissions. Policies aimed at reducing fuel consumption in the transport sector, to cut greenhouse gas emissions, may also help to further reduce air pollutant emissions.
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey are not members of the EU and hence have no emission ceilings set under the revised National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD), Directive (EU) 2016/2284. As well as most of the EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland have ratified the 1999 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) Gothenburg Protocol, which required them to reduce their emissions to the agreed ceiling, specified in the protocol, by 2010. Liechtenstein has also signed, but has not ratified, the protocol.
Both the NECD and the Gothenburg Protocol set reduction targets for SO2, NOx, NMVOCs and NH3 for the EEA-33 member countries. There are substantial differences in emission ceilings and, hence, emission reduction percentages for different countries, due to the different sensitivities of the ecosystems affected and the technical feasibility of making reductions.
For air pollutants, data officially reported to the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP)/LRTAP Convention have been used. According to reporting requirements, emission figures for all pollutants are available from 1990, and for PM2.5, PM10 and total suspended particles (TSP) from 2000.
Where a complete time series of emission data has not been reported, data have been gap filled according to the methodologies of the European Environment Agency's (EEA's) European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change (ETC/ACC). Details of the gap-filling procedure for the air pollutant data set are described in the EU emission inventory report 1990-2017 under the UNECE's Convention on LRTAP (EEA Technical Report No 8/2019).
Interpolation/extrapolation procedures are used to gap fill the underlying emission data set.
For the quantification of uncertainty, the EU LRTAP emissions inventory requires that Member States provide detailed information on uncertainties related to reported emissions data.
No uncertainty has been specified
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/transport-emissions-of-air-pollutants-8/transport-emissions-of-air-pollutants-7 or scan the QR code.
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