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Nitrogen oxide emissions still a major problem in Europe: 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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National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive Inventory: 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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National emissions reported to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention): Data on emissions of air pollutants submitted to the LRTAP Convention and copied to EEA and ETC/ACC
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NEC Directive status report 2008: Located in Publications
National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive Inventory: 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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Contribution to total change in non-methane volatile organic compounds emissions for each sector (EEA member countries): Chart showing sector contribution in the total percentage change of NMVOC emissions between 1990 and 2007.
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Change in non-methane volatile organic compounds emissions for each sector between 1990 and 2007 (EEA member countries): 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: 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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Emissions of ozone precursors (CSI 002) - Assessment published Oct 2010: 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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EEA-32 Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions (APE 004) - Assessment published Feb 2010: 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.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › EEA-32 Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions