Emissions of air pollutants from transport

Indicator Assessment
Prod-ID: IND-112-en
Also known as: TERM 003
expired Created 07 Dec 2015 Published 18 Dec 2015 Last modified 01 Dec 2016
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Between 1990 and 2013, the transport sector achieved some significant reductions in the emissions of major air pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) (both around 83 %), nitrogen oxides ( NO x ) (35%), sulphur oxide ( SO x ) (36%) and particulate matter (35 % in the case of PM 2.5 and 27 % for PM 10 ). Emissions of all pollutants decreased in 2013 compared with the previous year. NO x emissions decreased by 5 % , SO x by 12 % , and PM 10 and PM 2.5 by 9 % and 10 % respectively. The latest data shows that non-exhaust emissions of  primary PM 10  and   PM 2.5 make up 27 % and 16 % of total  transport emissions of these pollutants , respectively.   All transport modes have experienced a decrease in emissions since 1990, except for international aviation and shipping for which emissions of each pollutant have increased. Also, ammonia (NH 3 ) emissions from road transport have increased following the introduction of three-way catalytic converters on road vehicles, from which NH 3 is released as a byproduct. 

Key messages

  • Between 1990 and 2013, the transport sector achieved some significant reductions in the emissions of major air pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) (both around 83 %), nitrogen oxides (NOx) (35%), sulphur oxide (SOx) (36%) and particulate matter (35 % in the case of PM2.5 and 27 % for PM10).
  • Emissions of all pollutants decreased in 2013 compared with the previous year. NOx emissions decreased by 5 %, SOx by 12 %, and PM10 and PM2.5 by 9 % and 10 % respectively. The latest data shows that non-exhaust emissions of primary PM10 and PM2.5 make up 27 % and 16 % of total transport emissions of these pollutants, respectively. 
  • All transport modes have experienced a decrease in emissions since 1990, except for international aviation and shipping for which emissions of each pollutant have increased. Also, ammonia (NH3) emissions from road transport have increased following the introduction of three-way catalytic converters on road vehicles, from which NH3 is released as a byproduct. 

Are emissions of acidifying substances, particulates and ozone precursors from transport decreasing?

Contribution of the transport sector to total emissions of the main air pollutants

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Trend in emissions of air pollutants from transport

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Significant progress has been made since 1990 in reducing the emissions of many air pollutants from the transport sector.

The relative changes in emissions of pollutants from the transport sectors are shown in the above figures. Emissions from all transport sectors have declined since 1990 despite the general increase in activity within the sector since this time. Between 1990 and 2013, emissions of NOx from transport reduced by 35 %, PM2.5 by 35 %, SOx by 36 %, CO by 82 % and NMVOCs by 83 % across the EEA-33.

The scale of policy actions undertaken in Europe to specifically address transport-related air pollution have increased over recent years. Local and regional air quality management plans, including initiatives such as low-emission zones in cities or congestion charges, are now undertaken in areas of high air pollution from transport. The different European legal mechanisms for addressing air quality related to traffic comprise the setting of limit or target values for ambient concentrations of pollutants; limits on total emissions (e.g. national totals); and regulating emissions from the traffic sector either by setting emissions standards (like EURO 1-6) or by setting requirements for fuel quality.

Reductions achieved in the road transport sector are responsible for the vast majority of the overall reductions for each pollutant, as shown in the figures above. In contrast, since 1990, international aviation and shipping (SOx excepted for the latter) are the only transport sub-sectors where emissions of each pollutant have actually increased, while NH3 emissions from road transport have also increased. For example, NOx emissions from international aviation have more than doubled (+116 %) since 1990, while NOx and NMVOC emissions from international shipping have both increased by around 20 % and 24 %, respectively, and PM2.5 by 7 %. As emissions of pollutants such as NOx and SOx from land-based sources decrease, there is a growing awareness of the increasingly important contribution made to Europe's air quality by the national and international shipping sectors, which now are responsible for 19 % and 26 % of NOx and SOx emissions, respectively.

Transport is responsible for more than half of all NOx emissions, and contributes significantly (around 15 % or more) to the total emissions of the other pollutants. Road transport, in particular, makes a significant contribution to emissions of all the main air pollutants (with the exception of SOx). While emissions from road transport are mostly exhaust emissions arising from fuel combustion, non-exhaust releases contribute to both NMVOCs (from fuel evaporation) and primary PM (from tyre- and brake-wear, and road abrasion). While emissions of primary PM2.5 from road transport have declined since 1990 (by 50 %), the relative importance of non-exhaust emissions has increased, since the introduction of vehicle particulate abatement technologies has reduced exhaust emissions. In 2013, the non-exhaust emissions of PM2.5 constituted 33 % of the emissions from the road transport sector, compared to just 11 % in 1990 (for PM10 the contribution increased from 20 % in 1990 to 49 % in 2013).

Indicator specification and metadata

Indicator definition

This indicator is based on the emissions trend assessment of CO, NOx, NMVOCs, SOx and primary particulates. 

Units

Emissions are expressed as the percentage over 1990 levels.


Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

This indicator analyses the emissions of CO, NOx, NMVOCs, PM10, PM2.5 and SOx over time from transport. These pollutants can be grouped into acidifying substances, particulates and ozone precursors. Transport contributes significantly to emissions of NOx, NMVOC, PM and CO. NOx contributes to acidification, formation of ground level ozone and particulate formation.

Acidifying substances: Acidification of soils and waters is caused by emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx) and ammonia (NH3) into the atmosphere, and their subsequent chemical reactions and deposition on ecosystems and materials. The deposition of acidifying substances causes damage to ecosystems, buildings and materials (corrosion).

Particulate Formation: Airborne particulate matter (PM) has adverse effects on human health and can be responsible for and/or contribute to a number of respiratory problems. In this assessment, 'particulate formation' refers to primary emissions of PM10, PM2.5 and emissions of precursors (NOx, SOx and NH3), which lead to the secondary physico-chemical production of inorganic particulate matter in the atmosphere (secondary PM). A large fraction of the urban population is exposed to levels of fine particulate matter in excess of air quality limit values set for the protection of human health.

Ozone precursors: Emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4) contribute to the formation of ground-level (tropospheric) ozone, which has adverse effects on human health and ecosystems.

 

Scientific references

  • No rationale references available

Policy context and targets

Context description

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 particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), lead, carbon monoxide (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, in order 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 European Union and hence have no emissions ceilings set under the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) 2001/81/EC. As well as most of the EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland have ratified the 1999 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (UNECE Trend in emissions of air pollutants from transport in EEA-33 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.

Targets

Both the NECD and the Gothenburg protocol set reductions targets for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and non-methane volatile organic compounds and ammonia for the EEA-33 member countries. There are substantial differences in emissions ceilings, and hence emissions reduction percentages for different countries, due to the different sensitivities of the ecosystems affected and the technical feasibility of making reductions.

Related policy documents

  • 1999 Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone
    Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution 1999 Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone, amended on 4 May 2012.
  • Council Directive 96/61/EC (IPPC)
    Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September 1996 concerning Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC). Official Journal L 257.
  • Directive 98/70/EC, quality of petrol and diesel fuels
    Directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Directive 93/12/EEC
  • Directive 2001/80/EC, large combustion plants
    Directive 2001/80/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2001 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants
  • Directive 2001/81/EC, national emission ceilings
    Directive 2001/81/EC, on nation al emissions ceilings (NECD) for certain atmospheric pollutants. Emission reduction targets for the new EU10 Member States have been specified in the Treaty of Accession to the European Union 2003  [The Treaty of Accession 2003 of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia. AA2003/ACT/Annex II/en 2072] in order that they can comply with the NECD.

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

For air pollutants, officially reported data to EMEP/LRTAP have been used. Please refer to indicators CSI002 and CSI003

Methodology for gap filling

Where a complete time series of emissions data has not been reported, data have been gap-filled according to EEA ETC/ACC methodologies. Details of the gap-filling procedure for the air pollutant data set are described in the European Union emissions inventory report 1990–2008 under the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) (EEA Technical Report No 7/2010).

Methodology references

  • EC emission inventory report European Community emission inventory report 1990-2008 under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) , EEA Technical report No 7/2010.

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Interpolation/extrapolation procedures are used for gap-filling of the underlying emissions dataset.

Data sets uncertainty

The quantification of uncertainty in the European Union LRTAP emissions inventory requires that Member States provide detailed underpinning information on emissions uncertainties.

Rationale uncertainty

No uncertainty has been specified

Data sources

Generic metadata

Topics:

DPSIR: Pressure
Typology: Descriptive indicator (Type A - What is happening to the environment and to humans?)
Indicator codes
  • TERM 003
Temporal coverage:

Contacts and ownership

EEA Contact Info

Alfredo Sanchez Vicente

Ownership

EEA Management Plan

2015 1.1.2 (note: EEA internal system)

Dates

First draft created:
07 Dec 2015, 09:39 AM
Publish date:
18 Dec 2015, 03:57 PM
Last modified:
01 Dec 2016, 10:01 AM

Frequency of updates

Updates are scheduled once per year

Permalinks

Document Actions

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-3 or scan the QR code.

PDF generated on 22 Jul 2017, 12:59 AM

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