GIS Map Application
05 May 2017
Noise pollution is a major environmental concern in Europe. Explore NOISE maps to see environmental noise from roads, railways, airports, industry and in cities where you live.
Indicator Assessment
19 Apr 2017
Large combustion plants are responsible for a significant proportion of anthropogenic emissions. In 2014, large combustion plant emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) contributed 45 % and 15 %, respectively, to EU-28 totals.
Since 2004, emissions from large combustion plants in the EU-28 have decreased by 74 % for SO 2 , 47 % for NO x and 73 % for dust.
The largest plants (> 500 MWth) account for only 24 % of large combustion plants but are responsible for around 80 % of all large combustion plant SO 2 , NO x and dust emissions. In 2014, of a total of 3 446 large combustion plants, 50 % of all emissions came from just 42, 82 and 31 plants for SO 2 , NOx and dust, respectively.
One indicator of the environmental performance of large combustion plants is the ratio between emissions and fuel consumption (i.e. the implied emission factor). The implied emission factors for all three pollutants decreased significantly between 2004 and 2014 for all sizes of large combustion plants.
Indicator Assessment
19 Apr 2017
In 2014, there were just over 3 400 large combustion plants (LCPs) in the EU-28. The number of such plants increased by 10 % between 2004 and 2014. Most of this increase occurred between 2004 and 2010, with the trend stabilising after 2010.
There was also an 19 % increase in installed capacity in the EU-28 between 2004 and 2014.
The actual use of this capacity, in terms of the fuel input, remained broadly stable between 2004 and 2008, but since 2010 there has been a decreasing trend in total fuel used by large combustion plants in the EU-28. Fuel input fired in 2009 was 7 % lower than in 2008 and 3 % lower than in 2010.
The mix of fuels used remained largely stable over this time, although with a shift away from liquid fuels towards biomass. Between 2010 and 2014, the consumption of solid fuels increased while that of natural gas decreased. The types of fuel consumed most in 2014 were solid fuels (mainly coal; 56 % of total fuel consumption) and natural gas (24 %).
The installed capacity of large combustion plants in Europe is not equally distributed: Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom together accounted for more than 50 % of total fuel input and operating capacity in 2014.
The Directive relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise (the Environmental Noise Directive – END, 2002/49/EC) is the main EU instrument to identify noise pollution levels and to trigger the necessary action both at Member State and at EU level.
Data submitted by EEA member countries until 15/04/2016.
The left panel shows a risk model map during summer 2006 and the number of cases in countries reporting infections. The right panel shows a projection of the risk of infection in 2050.
The maps displays information and the presence/absence of Aedes albopictus.
RED: An established population (evidence of reproduction and overwintering) of the species has been observed in at least one municipality within the administrative unit.
YELLOW: The species has been introduced (but without confirmed establishment) in the administrative unit within the last 5 years of the distribution status date
DARK GREEN: Field surveys or studies on mosquitoes were conducted and no introduction (during the last 5 years) or no established population of the species have been reported
MEDIUM GREY: No data for the last 5 years are available to local experts
LIGHT GREY: No information is available about field studies on mosquitoes during the last 5 years.
The European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) is a web-based register established by Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 which implements the UNECE PRTR Protocol, signed in May 2003 in Kiev.
The graphs compares the shift from communicable to non-communicable diseases globally (left panel) with the (future) development of non-communicable diseases across world income regions.
The figure shows the projected premature deaths due to particulate matter and ground-level ozone. The OECD’s forecasts are based on modelling and thus depend on a range of assumptions about current and future air pollution and its interaction with other determinants of health, including the potential gains from air and climate policies. The forecasts consider only urban population and include the projected ageing of populations in the coming decades. BRIICS countries: Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia, China, South Africa
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