Emissions of air pollutants from transport

Indicator Assessment

Prod-ID: IND-112-en

Also known as: TERM 003

expired Created 02 Dec 2010 Published 12 Jan 2011 Last modified 11 Sep 2015

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With the exception of NH 3 , transport related emissions of all main contributors to acidification and particulate and ozone formation (CO, CH 4 , NH 3 , NO x , NMVOCs, SO x and primary particulates (PM 10 and PM 2.5 )) decreased in the EEA-32 between 1990 and 2008. The maximum of transport related NH 3 emissions in the EEA-32 was reached in 2000. NH 3 contributes to both acidification and particulate formation.

Key messages

With the exception of NH₃, transport related emissions of all main contributors to acidification and particulate and ozone formation (CO, CH₄, NH₃, NO_x, NMVOCs, SO_x and primary particulates (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5)) 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.

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

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).

Data source:

National emissions reported to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) provided by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

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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).

Data source:

National emissions reported to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) provided by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

Downloads and more info

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).

Data source:

National emissions reported to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) provided by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

Downloads and more info

Acidifying substances

In the EEA-32 transport emissions of SO_x and NO_x 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 NH₃emissions 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 NO_x, SO_x and NH₃ emissions of the EEA-32.

Ozone precursors

Within the group of the ozone precursors (CH₄, NO_x, 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 NO_x emissions of the EEA-32.

Particulate matter

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 PM_2.5 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 PM_2.5emissions of the EEA-32.

Indicator specification and metadata

Indicator definition

This indicator is based on the assessment of emissions trends of CO, NO_x, NMVOCs, SO_x and primary particulates.

Units

Emissions are expressed as a percentage of 1990 levels (except for PM emissions, which are expressed as a percentage of 2000 levels).

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

This indicator analyses the emissions from transport of CO, NO_x, NMVOCs, PM_10,PM_2.5and SO_x over time. These pollutants can be grouped into acidifying substances, particulate matters and ozone precursors. Transport contributes significantly to emissions of NO_x, NMVOCs, PM and CO. NO_x contributes to acidification, the formation of ground-level ozone and particulate formation.

Acidifying substances: the acidification of soils and waters is caused by emissions of NO_x, SO_x and NH₃ into the atmosphere, and their subsequent chemical reactions and depositions in ecosystems and on materials. The deposition of acidifying substances causes damage to ecosystems, buildings and other materials (corrosion).

Particulate formation: airborne 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 and PM_2.5 and emissions of precursors (NO_x, SO_x and NH₃), which lead to the secondary physico-chemical production of inorganic PM in the atmosphere (secondary PM). A large fraction of the urban population is exposed to levels of fine PM in excess of air quality limit values set for the protection of human health.

Ozone precursors: emissions of NMVOCs, NO_x, 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 PM (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5), 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.

Targets

Both the NECD and the Gothenburg Protocol set reduction targets for SO₂, NO_x, 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.

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

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 PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and total suspended particles (TSP) from 2000.

Methodology for gap filling

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).

Methodology references

EU emission inventory report European Union emission inventory report 1990-2017 under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) , EEA Technical report No 8/2019.

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Interpolation/extrapolation procedures are used to gap fill the underlying emission data set.

Data sets uncertainty

For the quantification of uncertainty, the EU LRTAP emissions inventory requires that Member States provide detailed information on uncertainties related to reported emissions data.

Rationale uncertainty

No uncertainty has been specified

Data sources

National emissions reported to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention)
provided by European Environment Agency (EEA)

Metadata

Topics:

Transport , Air pollution

Tags:

transport indicators , transport

DPSIR: Pressure
Typology: Descriptive indicator (Type A - What is happening to the environment and to humans?)

Indicator codes

TERM 003

Temporal coverage:

1995-2008

Geographic coverage:

Countries

Austria , Belgium , Bulgaria , Cyprus , Czechia , Denmark , Estonia , Finland , France , Germany , Greece , Hungary , Iceland , Ireland , Italy , Latvia , Liechtenstein , Lithuania , Luxembourg , Malta , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Romania , Slovakia , Slovenia , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , Turkey , United Kingdom

Dates

First draft created:

02 Dec 2010, 02:34 PM

Publish date:

12 Jan 2011, 12:00 AM

Last modified:

11 Sep 2015, 12:46 PM

Frequency of updates

Updates are scheduled once per year

EEA Contact Info

Federico Antognazza

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-7 or scan the QR code.

PDF generated on 14 Dec 2019, 03:31 PM

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