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EEA Signals 2009 - Key environmental issues facing Europe: Signals is published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) at the start of each year and provides snapshot stories on issues of interest both to the environmental policy debate and the wider public for the upcoming year. The eight stories addressed are not exhaustive but have been selected on the basis of their relevance to the current environmental policy debate in Europe. They address priority issues of climate change, nature and biodiversity, the use of natural resources and health.
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EEA-32 ammonia (NH3) emissions (APE 003) - Assessment published Feb 2010: EEA-32 emissions of NH 3 have declined by 22% between the years 1990 and 2007. Agriculture was responsible for 93% of NH 3 emissions in 2007. 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 sectors such as transport and to a lesser extent the energy industry and other (non-energy) sectors. 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). Twenty-one of the EU-27 Member States have already achieved their ceilings. Only Finland, Germany and Spain still need to make significant further reductions in order to meet their respective ceilings under the NECD. 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.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › EEA-32 ammonia (NH3) emissions
Emission trends of ammonia (EEA member countries, EU-27 Member States): The with measures (WM) projections reported by Member States take into account currently implemented and adopted policies and measures
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Emission trends of ammonia (EEA member countries, EU-27 Member States): This chart shows past emission trends of ammonia in the EEA-32 and EU-27 group of countries. In addition - for the EU-27 - the 2010 emission ceiling and aggregated projections reported by Member States are shown.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Emission trends of ammonia (EEA member countries, EU-27 Member States): This chart shows past emission trends of ammonia in the EEA-32 and EU-27 group of countries. In addition - for the EU-27 - the 2010 emission ceiling and aggregated projections reported by Member States are shown.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Emission trends of ammonia (EEA member countries, EU-27 Member States): This chart shows past emission trends of ammonia in the EEA-32 and EU-27 group of countries. In addition - for the EU-27 - the 2010 and 2020 emission ceilings and paths are shown.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Emissions by sector of ammonia - 2008 (EEA member countries): The contribution made by different sectors to emissions of ammonia.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Emissions of acidifying substances (CSI 001) - Assessment published Oct 2010: Emissions of acidifying pollutants (nitrogen oxides (NO X ), sulphur oxides (SO 2 ) and ammonia (NH 3 ) have decreased significantly in most of the individual EEA member countries between 1990 and 2008. Emissions of SO 2 have decreased by 74 %, NO X by 34 % and NH 3 emissions by 24 % since 1990. The EU-27 is on track to meet its overall target to reduce emissions of SO 2 and NH 3 as specified by the EU's NEC Directive (NECD). However a large number of individual Member States, and the EU as a whole, anticipate missing the 2010 emission ceilings set for NO X in the NECD, Of the three non-EU countries having emission ceilings set under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), both Liechtenstein and Norway also reported NO X emissions in 2008 that were substantially higher than their respective 2010 ceilings.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Emissions of acidifying substances
Emissions of acidifying substances (CSI 001) - Assessment published Dec 2012: Emissions of the acidifying pollutants, nitrogen oxides (NO X ), sulphur oxides (SO X ) and ammonia (NH 3 ), have decreased significantly in most of the individual EEA member countries between 1990 and 2010. Emissions of SO X have decreased by 75%, NO X by 42% and NH 3 emissions by 28% since 1990 within the EEA-32. Data reported under the NECD indicates that the EU-27 as a whole has met its overall target to reduce emissions of SO X and NH 3 as specified by the EU’s National Emissions Ceiling Directive (NECD). However twelve individual Member States, and the EU as a whole, reported emissions in the 2010 above their NECD 2010 emission ceilings for NO X , although the twelve Member States joining the EU in 2004/7 reported combined emissions below their collective NECD ceiling. Three EU-27 member states also reported 2010 NH 3 emissions above the levels of their NECD ceilings, neither of which are in the group of twelve new EU member states. Of the three non-EU countries having emission ceilings for 2010 under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), both Liechtenstein and Norway reported NO X emissions in 2010 that were substantially higher than their respective 2010 ceilings. Liechtenstein also reported 2010 NH 3 emissions above the level of their Gothenburg protocol 2010 ceiling.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Emissions of acidifying substances
Emissions of acidifying substances (CSI 001) - Assessment published Dec 2011: Emissions of the acidifying pollutants (nitrogen oxides (NO X ), sulphur oxides (SO X ) and ammonia (NH 3 ) have decreased significantly in most of the individual EEA member countries between 1990 and 2009. Emissions of SO X have decreased by 76%, NO X by 41% and NH 3 emissions by 26% since 1990. The EU-27 is on track to meet its overall target to reduce emissions of SO X and NH 3 as specified by the EU’s National Emissions Ceiling Directive (NECD). However a number of individual Member States, and the EU as a whole, anticipates missing their NECD 2010 emission ceilings for NO X . Of the three non-EU countries having emission ceilings for 2010 under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), both Liechtenstein and Norway reported NO X emissions in 2009 that were substantially higher than their respective 2010 ceilings.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Emissions of acidifying substances