Emissions of air pollutants from transport
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Key messages
With the exception of NH3, transport related emissions of all main contributors to acidification and particulate and ozone formation (CO, CH4, NH3, NOx, NMVOCs, SOx and primary particulates (PM10 and PM2.5)) 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).
- National emissions reported to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) provided by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
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).
- National emissions reported to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) provided by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
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).
- National emissions reported to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) provided by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Acidifying substances
In the EEA-32 transport
emissions of SOx and NOx 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 NH3 emissions
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 NOx, SOx and NH3
emissions of the EEA-32.
Ozone precursors
Within the group of the ozone
precursors (CH4, NOx, 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 NOx
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 PM2.5 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 PM2.5 emissions
of the EEA-32.
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 (PM as percentage over 2000 levels).
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 emission 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 emission ceilings set under the revised National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) 2016/2284/EU. 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 reduction targets for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds and ammonia 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.
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 (EU) 2016/2284, reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants
The directive is amending Directive 2003/35/EC (providing for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment) and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC. It entered into force at the end of 2016 and aims at compliance with the 2012 amended Gothenburg Protocol. In July 2017, the EU ratified the 2012 amendments to the 1999 protocol.
-
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
Methodology
Methodology for indicator calculation
For air pollutants, officially reported data to the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP)/LRTAP have been used. According to reporting requirements, emission figures for all pollutants are available from 1990, and for PM2.5, PM10 and TSP from 2000. Please refer to indicators CSI002 and CSI003.
Methodology for gap filling
Where a complete time series of emission data has not been reported, data have been gap-filled according to the EEA's European Topic Centre for Air and Climate Change (ETC/ACC) methodologies. Details of the gap-filling procedure for the air pollutant data set are described in the European Union emission 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 1990-2015 under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) , EEA Technical report No 9/2017.
Uncertainties
Methodology uncertainty
Interpolation/extrapolation procedures are used for gap-filling of the underlying emission 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
-
National emissions reported to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention)
provided by European Environment Agency (EEA)
Generic metadata
Tags:
Typology: Descriptive indicator (Type A - What is happening to the environment and to humans?)
- TERM 003
Geographic coverage:
Countries
Austria , Belgium , Bulgaria , Cyprus , Czech Republic , 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 KingdomDates
Frequency of updates
Permalinks
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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.
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