Emissions of air pollutants from transport in Europe

With the introduction of policy measures in recent decades, the emissions of most air pollutants from transport in the EU-27 have decreased. Reductions in the road transport sector account for the greatest progress. However, the largest increases came from international aviation and navigation, with emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, particulate matter, ammonia and nitrous oxide rising in aviation, and methane emissions increasing in navigation. Most pollutants have rebounded since 2020, when they fell together with transport volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Metadata
DPSIR Driving forces
Typology Descriptive indicator (Type A - What is happening to the environment and to humans?)
UN SDGs SDG3: Good health and well-being
Topics Transport and mobility, Air pollution, Environmental health impacts, Pollution
Temporal coverage { "readOnly": true, "temporal": [ { "label": "1990", "value": "1990" }, { "label": "1991", "value": "1991" }, { "label": "1992", "value": "1992" }, { "label": "1993", "value": "1993" }, { "label": "1994", "value": "1994" }, { "label": "1995", "value": "1995" }, { "label": "1996", "value": "1996" }, { "label": "1997", "value": "1997" }, { "label": "1998", "value": "1998" }, { "label": "1999", "value": "1999" }, { "label": "2000", "value": "2000" }, { "label": "2001", "value": "2001" }, { "label": "2002", "value": "2002" }, { "label": "2003", "value": "2003" }, { "label": "2004", "value": "2004" }, { "label": "2005", "value": "2005" }, { "label": "2006", "value": "2006" }, { "label": "2007", "value": "2007" }, { "label": "2008", "value": "2008" }, { "label": "2009", "value": "2009" }, { "label": "2010", "value": "2010" }, { "label": "2011", "value": "2011" }, { "label": "2012", "value": "2012" }, { "label": "2013", "value": "2013" }, { "label": "2014", "value": "2014" }, { "label": "2015", "value": "2015" }, { "label": "2016", "value": "2016" }, { "label": "2017", "value": "2017" }, { "label": "2018", "value": "2018" }, { "label": "2019", "value": "2019" }, { "label": "2020", "value": "2020" }, { "label": "2021", "value": "2021" }, { "label": "2022", "value": "2022" }, { "label": "2023", "value": "2023" } ] }
Geographic coverage { "readOnly": true, "geolocation": [ { "label": "Austria", "value": "geo-2782113" }, { "label": "Belgium", "value": "geo-2802361" }, { "label": "Bulgaria", "value": "geo-732800" }, { "label": "Croatia", "value": "geo-3202326" }, { "label": "Cyprus", "value": "geo-146669" }, { "label": "Czechia", "value": "geo-3077311" }, { "label": "Denmark", "value": "geo-2623032" }, { "label": "Estonia", "value": "geo-453733" }, { "label": "Finland", "value": "geo-660013" }, { "label": "France", "value": "geo-3017382" }, { "label": "Germany", "value": "geo-2921044" }, { "label": "Greece", "value": "geo-390903" }, { "label": "Hungary", "value": "geo-719819" }, { "label": "Ireland", "value": "geo-2963597" }, { "label": "Italy", "value": "geo-3175395" }, { "label": "Latvia", "value": "geo-458258" }, { "label": "Lithuania", "value": "geo-597427" }, { "label": "Luxembourg", "value": "geo-2960313" }, { "label": "Malta", "value": "geo-2562770" }, { "label": "Netherlands", "value": "geo-2750405" }, { "label": "Poland", "value": "geo-798544" }, { "label": "Portugal", "value": "geo-2264397" }, { "label": "Romania", "value": "geo-798549" }, { "label": "Slovakia", "value": "geo-3057568" }, { "label": "Slovenia", "value": "geo-3190538" }, { "label": "Spain", "value": "geo-2510769" }, { "label": "Sweden", "value": "geo-2661886" } ] }
Workflow
Content responsible Head of Group Suzanne Dael
Layout
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Across the EU-27 Member States, between 1990 and 2023, emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) from transport decreased by 53%, sulphur oxides (SO x ) by 82%, and carbon monoxide (CO) by 90%. Methane (CH 4 ) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) by 76% and 91%, respectively.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Together, such policies have delivered progress in reducing the\u00a0emissions\u00a0of many pollutants from the transport sector. Across the EU-27 Member States, between 1990 and 2023, emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ") from transport " }, { "children": [ { "text": "decreased" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": " by 53%, sulphur oxides (SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ") by 82%, and carbon monoxide (CO) by 90%. Methane (CH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "4" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ") and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) by 76% and 91%, respectively. " } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881d": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fitted": false, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "section": false, "short": true, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "8ba9d5a2-a670-40d7-bfbf-eb04f5bc946d": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Between 1990 and 2023, transport emissions of ammonia (NH 3 ) increased by 123% while nitrous oxide (N 2 O) increased by 34%. The increases of these two air pollutants are concerning . NH 3 emitted in cities has a very high impact on air quality, due to its role in the formation of particulate matter, including ultrafine particles (0.1\u00b5m or less in diameter). Ultrafine particles are critical in terms of health effects , as they constitute the largest part of the inhalable fraction of particulate matter. Meanwhile, N 2 O , a powerful greenhouse gas, is also currently considered a dominant ozone depleting substance. In road transport, the growth of NH 3 and N 2 O is mostly due to the use of selective catalytic systems for the reduction of NO x in diesel engines and the use of enriched fuel mixtures to control NO x at high load in petrol engines .", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Between 1990 and 2023, transport emissions of ammonia (NH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ") increased by 123% while nitrous oxide (N" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "O) increased by 34%. The increases of these two air pollutants are " }, { "children": [ { "text": "concerning" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": ". " }, { "children": [ { "text": "NH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " emitted in cities has a very high impact on air quality, " } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724070037" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "due to its role in the formation of particulate matter, including ultrafine particles (0.1\u00b5m or less in diameter). " }, { "children": [ { "text": "Ultrafine particles are critical in terms of health effects" } ], "data": { "url": "../../../../resolveuid/741d60d52386461095619cab04d66dd1" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ", as they constitute the largest part of the inhalable fraction of particulate matter. Meanwhile, " }, { "children": [ { "text": "N" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "O" } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1176985" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ", a powerful greenhouse gas, is also currently considered a dominant ozone depleting substance. In road transport, the growth of NH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3 " } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "and N" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "O is mostly due to the use of " }, { "children": [ { "text": "selective catalytic systems" } ], "data": { "url": "https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/6a995fe6-5f1d-11ed-92ed-01aa75ed71a1/language-en" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " for the reduction of NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "small" }, { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " in " }, { "children": [ { "text": "diesel engines" } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/11/3/404" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " and the use of enriched fuel mixtures to control NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " at high load in " }, { "children": [ { "text": "petrol engines" } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/12/3/245" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "ac187453-7fed-4897-bba1-5e6f56a246b3": { "@type": "group", "className": "figure-metadata", "data": { "blocks": { "4db4e046-aeb3-444d-9c14-e8cfc2a2b964": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Figure 1. Emissions of pollutants from transport in EU-27", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 1. Emissions of pollutants from transport in EU-27" } ], "type": "h3-light" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "4db4e046-aeb3-444d-9c14-e8cfc2a2b964" ] } }, "id": "figure-metadata-b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c" }, "b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c": { "@type": "embed_content", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p>figure instructions goes here</p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "url": "../../../../resolveuid/b90cbf2b66e1412b9fd9f5b2b2a41fac" }, "deb7e84d-d2c8-4491-90fa-3dc65fe02143": { "@type": "slate", "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><br/></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "plaintext": "", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "e6646960-9aed-4327-8daa-6a23006bd51d": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "In the same time frame, EU-27 transport emissions of particulate matter with a particle diameter of 10\u00b5m (PM 10 ) and 2.5\u00b5m (PM 2.5 ) or less, including non-exhaust emissions, decreased by 47% and 59%, respectively. While a significant reduction can be seen for both PM 10 and PM 2.5 , the non-exhaust fraction of these emissions, from brake and tyre wear or road abrasion for example, is increasing in percentage. This constituted 77% and 60% of PM 10 and PM 2.5 emissions from road transport in 2023 and is expected to become even more relevant with the progressive decarbonisation of the sector and increases in vehicle mass due to greater prevalence of heavier electric vehicles within fleet composition .", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "In the same time frame, EU-27 transport emissions of particulate matter with a particle diameter of 10\u00b5m (PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "10" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ") and 2.5\u00b5m (PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2.5" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ") or less, including non-exhaust emissions, decreased by 47% and 59%, respectively. While a significant reduction can be seen for both PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "10" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2.5" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", the non-exhaust fraction of these emissions, from brake and tyre wear or road abrasion for example, is increasing in percentage. This constituted 77% and 60% of PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "10" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2.5" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " emissions from " }, { "children": [ { "text": "road transport " } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": "in 2023 and is expected to become even more relevant with the progressive decarbonisation of the sector and increases in " }, { "children": [ { "text": "vehicle mass due to greater prevalence of heavier electric vehicles within fleet composition" } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231020306208" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "f0002fbf-1937-4f24-9c81-7d197a123c41": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Pollutants emitted by transport activities contribute to ambient air pollution and put significant pressure on the environment and human health. European policy efforts in recent decades have addressed transport-related air pollution in road, rail, aviation and maritime modes of transport, leading to some notable improvements.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Pollutants emitted by transport activities contribute to ambient air pollution and put significant\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "pressure" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": "\u00a0on the environment and human health. European policy efforts in recent decades have addressed transport-related air pollution in road, rail, aviation and maritime modes of transport, leading to some notable improvements." } ], "type": "p" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "ac187453-7fed-4897-bba1-5e6f56a246b3", "b0279dde-1ceb-4137-a7f1-5ab7b46a782c", "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881d", "f0002fbf-1937-4f24-9c81-7d197a123c41", "0a2e2b26-0499-4122-904b-148edea0224d", "e6646960-9aed-4327-8daa-6a23006bd51d", "8ba9d5a2-a670-40d7-bfbf-eb04f5bc946d" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": false, "fixed": true, "ignoreSpaces": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p><strong>Assessment text remains at</strong> <strong>the relevant</strong> <strong>aggregate level</strong> <strong>(i.e.</strong> <strong>global, EU, sectoral)</strong> <strong>and addresses the following: </strong></p><ol keys=\"dkvn8,e367c,f4lpb,9j981,7ai6k,3g3pd\" depth=\"0\"><li>Explains in one or two sentences on the environmental rationale of the indicator, i.e. why it matters to the environment that we see an increase/decrease in the value measured.</li><li>Explains in one or two sentences the associated policy objective, which can be either quantitative or directional. 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A full reference list appears in the supporting information section.</strong></p>", "encoding": "utf8" }, "maxChars": "2000", "placeholder": "Aggregate level assessment e.g. progress at global, EU level..", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "title": "Aggregate level assessment" }, "677f7422-6da4-4c86-bca8-de732b7047b9": { "@type": "dividerBlock", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "hidden": true, "readOnly": true, "required": true, "section": false, "spacing": "m", "styles": {} }, "702fc3d4-1205-4adf-ab27-175476040a44": { "@layout": "d060487d-88fc-4f7b-8ea4-003f14e0fb0c", "@type": "group", "allowedBlocks": [ "slate" ], "as": "section", "block": "3800c7ce-d754-44de-9efa-ae38dbd9d36a", "data": { "blocks": { "02ba4a04-fcfe-4968-806f-1dac3119cfef": { "@type": "embed_content", "url": "../../../../resolveuid/dab83d9b6cd74277a241b7b32eab81e5" }, "07aeafdb-fb99-4845-8cd5-a2fafdb7799f": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Total emissions from the aviation sector (both domestic and international) increased for most pollutants (except CH 4 , CO, and NMVOCs), with growth since 1990 ranging from 80% and 140% depending on the compound considered. Emission trends from international aviation are higher than those from domestic aviation for several pollutants, namely NO x , SO x , PM, NH 3 and N 2 O. This is mostly driven by increasing activity levels and inherently greater emissions per fligh t.", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Total emissions from the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "aviation" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": "\u00a0sector (both domestic and international) increased for most pollutants (except CH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "4" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", CO, and NMVOCs), with growth since 1990 ranging from 80% and 140% depending on the compound considered. Emission trends from international aviation are higher than those from domestic aviation for several pollutants, namely NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", PM, NH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and N" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "O. This is mostly driven by " }, { "children": [ { "text": "increasing activity levels and inherently greater emissions per fligh" } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/eaer-downloads/EASA_EAER_2025_Book_v5.pdf" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "t." } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "0f770821-8777-4430-aa36-f66859b1b762": { "@type": "group", "className": "figure-metadata", "data": { "blocks": { "c1790a1f-4b61-47b7-a6fc-ae49a020fd48": { "@type": "slate", "plaintext": "Figure 2. Variations (1990-2023) in the emissions of pollutants from transport by mode in EU-27", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "Figure 2. 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The reductions range from 8.2% to 90.1% depending on the compound considered. International navigation has also seen a reduction in several air pollutants, including NH 3 , NO x , PM 10 , PM 2.5 and SO x , between 1990 and 2023. Others have increased over the same time period, with CH 4 emissions rising by 109%, mainly due to the widespread adoption of LNG-fueled engines in internatinal shipping, which produce significant methane slip . ", "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "In the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "navigation" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": "\u00a0sector, emissions from domestic navigation have fallen since 1990 for all the pollutants considered except NH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", which increased by 28%. The reductions range from 8.2% to 90.1% depending on the compound considered. 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Others have increased over the same time period, with CH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "4" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " emissions rising by 109%, mainly due to the widespread adoption of LNG-fueled engines in internatinal shipping, which produce significant " }, { "children": [ { "text": "methane slip" } ], "data": { "url": "https://theicct.org/publication/fumes-characterizing-methane-emissions-from-lng-fueled-ships-using-drones-helicopters-and-on-board-measurements-jan24/" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "." }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "small" }, { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] } }, "blocks_layout": { "items": [ "0f770821-8777-4430-aa36-f66859b1b762", "02ba4a04-fcfe-4968-806f-1dac3119cfef", "43df8fab-b278-4b0e-a62c-ce6b8e0a881e", "07aeafdb-fb99-4845-8cd5-a2fafdb7799f", "d3feda3e-c514-4f3c-957e-0afc79bf0d09" ] } }, "disableInnerButtons": true, "disableNewBlocks": false, "fixed": true, "ignoreSpaces": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": 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true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Published: " }, { "children": [ { "text": "date" } ], "data": { "id": "effective", "widget": "datetime" }, "type": "mention" }, { "text": " \u2012 25min read" } ], "type": "sup" }, { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" } ] }, "1c31c956-5086-476a-8694-9936cfa6c240": { "@type": "description", "disableNewBlocks": true, "fixed": true, "instructions": { "content-type": "text/html", "data": "<p>The summary tells the reader about the indicator trend over the examined period and whether or not it helps to achieve the associated policy objective, which can be either quantitative or directional.</p><p>In the absence of a policy objective, it explains whether the trend is in the right or wrong direction in relation to the issue examined.</p><p>If there has been an important change over the most recent period of the time series, e.g. over the last year, this is indicated too.</p><p>Furthermore, if there is a quantitative target, 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Reductions in the road transport sector account for the greatest progress. However, the largest increases came from international aviation and navigation, with emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, particulate matter, ammonia and nitrous oxide rising in aviation, and methane emissions increasing in navigation. Most pollutants have rebounded since 2020, when they fell together with transport volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic.", "readOnlySettings": true, "required": true, "value": [ { "children": [ { "text": "With the introduction of policy measures in recent decades, the emissions of most air pollutants from transport in the EU-27 have decreased. Reductions in the road transport sector account for the greatest progress. However, the largest increases came from international aviation and navigation, with emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, particulate matter, ammonia and nitrous oxide rising in aviation, and methane emissions increasing in navigation. 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Supporting information
Methodology [ { "children": [ { "text": "For CO, NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", NMVOCs, SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", NH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "10" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2.5" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", data officially reported to the\u00a0European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme\u00a0(EMEP)/LRTAP Convention were used. For CH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "4" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and N" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "O data officially reported under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and also under the Kyoto Protocol (KP) were used." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Where a complete time series of emission data has not been reported for CO, NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", NMVOCs, SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", NH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "10" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2.5" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", data have been gap filled according to the\u00a0methodologies of the\u00a0European 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 under the UNECE's Convention on LRTAP. Similarly, for CH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "4" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and N" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "O additional information on the gap-filling procedure can be found in the Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory and inventory document." } ], "type": "p" } ]
Data sources and providers { "readOnly": true, "data": [ { "@id": "9e192667-9c31-4aea-862a-aa77f559438a", "link": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/datahub/datahubitem-view/5be6cebc-ed2b-4496-be59-93736fc4ad78?activeAccordion=1093548", "organisation": "European Environment Agency (EEA)", "title": "National emissions reported to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention), v1.1, 2025" }, { "@id": "037be064-2d16-4fad-b60c-d5a33cd49ab3", "link": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/datahub/datahubitem-view/3b7fe76c-524a-439a-bfd2-a6e4046302a2?activeAccordion=1091606%2C1095700%2C1095998%2C1096150", "organisation": "European Environment Agency (EEA)", "title": "National emissions reported to the UNFCCC and to the EU under the Governance Regulation, 2025 ver. 3.0" } ] }
Definition [ { "children": [ { "text": "The indicator measures the relative change (in %) in the emissions of different pollutants (CO, NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", NMVOCs, SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", NH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", CH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "4" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", N" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "O, PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "10" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2.5" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ") in the transport sector as a whole and for different subsectors. Relative variations were indexed with respect to year 1990 for all pollutants." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" }, { "children": [ { "text": "List of abbreviations" } ], "type": "strong" }, { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2.5" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "/ PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "10" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ": particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of 2.5\u03bcm/10\u03bcm or less respectively, including non-exhaust emissions.\nNMVOCs: non-methane volatile organic compounds\nSO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ": sulphur oxides\nNO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ": nitrogen oxides\nCO: carbon monoxide\nNH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ": ammonia\nCH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "4" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ": methane\nN" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "O: nitrous oxide" } ], "type": "p" } ]
Unit of measure [ { "children": [ { "text": "FIG1: Relative magnitude compared to 1990 (percentage)" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "FIG2: Relative variation compared to 1990 (percentage)" } ], "type": "p" } ]
Policy / environmental relevance [ { "children": [ { "text": "The mobility system contributes to overall air pollution emissions and air quality deterioration across Europe. Additional information on its relative contribution to the overall situation in Europe can be found by consulting the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "EEA interactive data viewer," } ], "data": { "url": "../../../../resolveuid/9e92ea95f2bd47cda6e12030526efd40" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "\u00a0while up-to-date information on air quality in Europe can be found in the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "EEA interactive maps" } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/air-quality-statistics" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "For instance, since 2008, the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Ambient air quality Directive" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02008L0050-20150918" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "\u00a0has set limits or target values for concentrations of pollutants in the ambient air, while the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "NEC Directive" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2016.344.01.0001.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2016:344:TOC" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "\u00a0has set emission reduction commitments since 2016 for total national emissions for five air pollutants (NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", NMVOCs, NH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "\u00a0and PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2.5" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "). Recently, the European Commission proposed a revision of the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Ambient air quality Directive" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02008L0050-20150918" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ", to more closely\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "align air quality standards" } ], "type": "b" }, { "text": "\u00a0with WHO guidelines, while putting the EU on a trajectory to achieve the\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "zero pollution ambition by 2050" } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/dashboards/air-quality-statistics" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Emissions from the transport sector are further regulated by\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "vehicle emissions standards" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1257/oj/eng" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " (for " }, { "children": [ { "text": "new cars and light commercial " } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/631/oj/eng" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "and " }, { "children": [ { "text": "heavy-duty " } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1242/oj/eng" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": "vehicles) and " }, { "children": [ { "text": "fuel quality requirements" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/30/oj/eng" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ". Local and regional air quality\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "management plans" } ], "type": "b" }, { "text": ", including initiatives such as low-emission zones and congestion charges in cities, are active in many areas. SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " emissions from international shipping are regulated by\u00a0" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Annex VI to MARPOL Convention of the International Maritime Organisation" } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.imo.org/en/about/Conventions/Pages/International-Convention-for-the-Prevention-of-Pollution-from-Ships-(MARPOL).aspx" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ". SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " requirements are transposed in " }, { "children": [ { "text": "EU law" } ], "data": { "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/30/oj/eng" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": " by the Directive on sulphur content in certain liquid fuels including marine fuels. Aviation emission of NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and nvPM are regulated at " }, { "children": [ { "text": "ICAO level" } ], "data": { "url": "https://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/Pages/default.aspx" }, "type": "link" }, { "text": ". " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "" } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Transport emissions of ammonia (NH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ") and nitrous oxide (N" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "O) are increasing and are of concern: NH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " emitted within the cities have a very high impact on air quality; N" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "O, beside a powerful greenhouse gas, is also currently considered a dominant ozone depleting substance." } ], "type": "p" } ]
Frequency of dissemination 1
Accuracy and uncertainties [ { "children": [ { "text": "For CO, NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", NMVOCs, SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", NH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "10" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2.5" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", data officially reported to the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP)/LRTAP Convention were used. For CH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "4 " } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "and N" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "O data officially reported under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and also under the Kyoto Protocol (KP) were used." } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": " " } ], "type": "p" }, { "children": [ { "text": "Where a complete time series of emission data has not been reported for CO, NO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", NMVOCs, SO" }, { "children": [ { "text": "x" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", NH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "3" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "10" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and PM" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2.5" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": ", 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 1990-2022 under the UNECE's Convention on LRTAP. Similarly, for CH" }, { "children": [ { "text": "4" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": " and N" }, { "children": [ { "text": "2" } ], "type": "sub" }, { "text": "O additional information on the gap-filling procedure can be found in the Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory 1990\u20132022 and inventory document 2024, First submission under the Enhanced Transparency Framework of the Paris Agreement." } ], "type": "p" } ]
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Short name emissions-of-air-pollutants-from
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Emissions of pollutants from transport in EU-27

This figure shows the relative change (in percentage) in the emissions of different pollutants (CO, NO x , NMVOCs, SO x , NH 3 , CH 4 , N 2 O, PM 10 , PM 2.5 ) in the transport sector between 1990 and 2023.