Industrial releases of air pollutants damaging to human health and the environment decreased between 2010 and 2023 in Europe. Emissions of greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur oxides (SOx)), and other pollutants (e.g. nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM10) and heavy metals) all declined significantly. The value that industry generated for the European economy during this period increased, and therefore brings an increase in efficiency in terms of the ratio of emissions generated and the value output of the sector.

Figure 1. Industrial releases of pollutants to air and economic activity in the EU-27

The activity of European industry results in the release of pollutants to air. These include greenhouse gases, such as CO2 and acidifying pollutants (e.g. sulphur oxides (SOx)). Other pollutants released that damage human health and the environment include nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (in this case PM10), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and heavy metals including cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg).

To reduce pollutant emissions, the use of natural resources and the generation of waste, EU industrial policy aims to drive a transition to a zero pollution, climate neutral industry based on circular material flows. Monitoring the release of air pollutants is key to tracking progress towards achieving these goals.

Industrial emissions to air are reported under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention), Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action (for CO2) and the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register Regulation (E-PRTR). The E-PRTR has recently been rebranded as European Industrial Emission Portal by Regulation (EU) 2024/1244), which covers releases from large industrial facilities involved only in certain activities.

Between 2010 and 2023, industrial releases of heavy metals (Cd, Hg and Pb), SOx and PM10 decreased by over 75% in the European Union. Releases of other pollutants decreased less but still achieved significant reductions: NOx almost 60%, NMVOC by 42% and CO2 by 38%. In the same period, the value that industry generated for the economy — as measured by gross added value (GVA) — increased, indicating that European industry has become less emission intensive, as the ratio of air pollutant releases to the production of industrial goods decreased. GVA in 2023 was 1% less than in 2022, yet still rebounding after the COVID-19 pandemic, while emissions confirmed the overall downward trajectory.

The decrease in industrial pollutant emissions to air can be partly attributed to European regulation, such as the EU Emissions Trading System and the Industrial Emissions Directive. Improvements in energy efficiency and abatement technologies, and the relocation of various heavy-polluting and energy-intensive manufacturing industries (such as textile or metal production) outside Europe also contributes.

Figure 2. Change of pollutant releases into air in EU-27 countries in the period 2010-2023

Since 2010, while recovering from the economic downturn impact of 2008–2009, emission levels from the industrial sector decreased steadily in most pollutants. Industrial emissions are very complex reality in terms of substances to consider, their effects on health and the environment, and the very different realities across European countries.  

Patterns can be identified. Emissions of pollutants associated primarily to activities that include combustion processes (e.g. electricity producers, iron and steel works, cement plants), are generally decreasing across the board. This refers to emissions of NOx, SOx and PM10 emissions. This trend is consistent with the improvement of environmental performance of these industries and shifts of fuels (with a progressive abandonment of coal). Evidence points to EU policy as one of the key drivers of these positive developments, as significant emission reductions (over 50% since 2010) occurred in most countries who recently joined the European Union.

Heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Pb) are emitted in relatively lower amounts and have a natural variable trend over time. Several reasons contribute, some related to the mechanism of reporting (which includes estimations and operates with minimum thresholds), and others related to actual developments in the industry.