Air pollution - Outlook 2020 (Switzerland)

Emissions are projected to decrease to 2020

Under current policies, emissions of air pollutants will further decline towards 2010. After 2010, with continuation of current policies and additional measures, emissions of NO_x, SO₂, NMVOC and ammonia are expected to continue to decline.

Number of exceedances will strongly decline

With current and proposed national and international legislation and the expected effect on emissions, the number of exceedances will strongly decline by the year 2020.

Premature mortality from particulate matter is projected to decline further

If proposed national and international policies are put in place, the number of life-years lost will continue to decline to 2020. Where health effects are caused mainly by primary emitted combustion-related aerosols such as soot, health improvements may even be greater.

Critical loads may continue to be exceeded to 2020

While emissions of acidifying and eutrophying substances are expected to decrease, critical loads, particularly those for eutrophication, may still be exceeded in 2020.