Air pollution - Outlook 2020 (Norway)

The national target for PM10, and to some extent the national target for NO2, will not be attained in 2010. Projections for 2020 show that the number of people exposed to exceedances of the national target for PM10 will be substantially reduced, primarily due to a decrease in the use of studded tyres and better technology, and increased introduction of clean burning wood-stoves.

Despite approved emissions reductions targets under several regulations such as the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, acidification will continue to be a problem in large areas of South Norway, particularly in the southern and western parts. Even with a maximum feasible reduction scenario, the problems will persist until 2100 and beyond.

It is uncertain how the trend in ozone concentrations will change in the future. New methods for assessing ozone damage to vegetation (flux-based approach) indicate that even southern parts of Norway may experience more damage than previously assumed.

• Read more about ground-level ozone in Norway