Emissions of the main ground-level ozone precursor pollutants have decreased across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2009; nitrogen oxides (NO X ) by 41%, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) by 51%, carbon monoxide (CO) by 61%, and methane (CH 4 ) by 27%.
This decrease has been achieved mainly as a result of the introduction of catalytic converters for vehicles. These changes have significantly reduced emissions of NO X and CO from the road transport sector, the main source of ozone precursor emissions.
The EU-27 is still some way from meeting its 2010 target to reduce emissions of NO X , one of the two ozone precursors (NO X and NMVOC) for which emission limits exist under the EU’s National Emissions Ceiling Directive (NECD). Whilst total NMVOC emissions in the EU-27 were below the NECD limit in 2009, a number of individual Member States anticipate missing their ceilings for one or either of these two pollutants.
Of the three non-EU countries having emission ceilings for 2010 set under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), all three countries reported NMVOC emissions in 2009 that were lower than their respective 2010 ceilings. However both Liechtenstein and Norway reported NO X emissions in 2009 that were substantially higher than their respective 2010 ceilings.
The total production and consumption of ozone depleting substances in EEA member countries has decreased significantly since the Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987, nowadays it is practically zero. Globally, the implementation of the Montreal Protocol has led to a decrease in the atmospheric burden of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) in the lower atmosphere and in the stratosphere. Many ODSs are also potent greenhouse gases. The phasing out of ODS under the Montreal Protocol has reduced global greenhouse gas emissions by an amount 5 to 6 times larger than the UNFCCC's Kyoto Protocol target for the first commitment period, 2008-2012.
EEA-32 emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO X ) have decreased by 41% between 1990 and 2009. In 2009, the most significant sources of NO X emissions were the ‘Road transport’ sector (38%), ‘Energy production and distribution’ sector (22%), ‘Commercial, institutional and households’ sector (15%) and the ‘Energy use in industry’ sector (13%).
The largest reduction of emissions in absolute terms since 1990 has occurred in the road transport sector. These reductions have been achieved despite the general increase in activity within this sector since the early 1990s and have primarily been achieved as a result of fitting three-way catalysts to petrol fuelled vehicles. However, ambient urban concentrations of NO 2 in EU-27 countries in recent years have not fallen by as much as reported emissions. Since 2002, NO 2 average annual mean concentrations at urban background sites have fallen by just 9 %, as indicated in CSI 004, during which time the reported NO X emissions for the EU-27 decreased by 23%. This discrepancy may be a result of a general under-estimation of the effect of catalytic degradation in newer cars, in which case a number of member states’ NO X emissions could be significantly higher than currently calculated.
In the electricity/energy production sector reductions have also occurred, in these instances as a result of measures such as the introduction of combustion modification technologies (such as use of low NO X burners), implementation of flue-gas abatement techniques (e.g NO X scrubbers and selective (SCR) and non-selective (SNCR) catalytic reduction techniques) and fuel-switching from coal to gas.
The National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) specifies NO X emission ceilings for Member States that must be met by 2010. In general, the newer EU Member States have made substantially better progress towards meeting their respective NO X ceilings than the older Member States of the EU-15. Ten of the twelve post-2004 Member States had already reduced their 2009 emissions beyond what is required under the NECD, with the remaining two reporting NO X emissions less than 2% above the NECD target . In contrast, only four of the EU-15 Member States reported emissions for 2009 within their respective national ceilings. Thus many Member States required a significant reduction of NO X emissions to have been made in 2010 if they are to meet their obligations under the NECD. Of the three non-EU countries having emission ceilings set under the UNECE/CLRTAP Gothenburg protocol (Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) only for Switzerland were emissions in 2009 below the level of their 2010 ceiling.
Environmental context: NO X contributes to acid deposition and eutrophication. The subsequent impacts of acid deposition can be significant, including adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems in rivers and lakes and damage to forests, crops and other vegetation. Eutrophication can lead to severe reductions in water quality with subsequent impacts including decreased biodiversity, changes in species composition and dominance, and toxicity effects. It is NO 2 that is associated with adverse affects on human health, as at high concentrations it can cause inflammation of the airways. NO 2 also contributes to the formation of secondary particulate aerosols and tropospheric ozone in the atmosphere - both are important air pollutants due to their adverse impacts on human health.
The Directive on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants (LCP Directive, 2001/80/EC) applies to combustion plants with a rated thermal input equal to or greater than 50 MW, irrespective of the type of fuel used (solid, liquid or gaseous).
The Regulation (EC) No 443/2009 requires Member States to record information for each new passenger car registered in its territory. Every year, each Member State shall submit to the Commission all the information related to their new registration. In particular, the following details are required for each new passenger car registered: manufacturer name, type, variant, version, make and commercial name, specific emissions of CO2, mass in running order, wheel base and track width. Additional information, such as fuel type, fuel mode and engine capacity were also submitted.
The Natura 2000 Barometer gives an evaluation on the progress made in establishing the Natura 2000 network, both under the Birds and the Habitats Directives. It is based on information on number of sites and areas covered, as indicated by Member States and is published in the Natura 2000 Newsletter.
The maps illustrate Corine Land Cover 1990 for each country for all 44 classes
The maps illustrate Corine Land Cover 2000 for each country for all 44 classes.
False-color view of total ozone over the Antarctic pole. The purple and blue colors are where there is the least ozone, and the yellows and reds are where there is more ozone. Measured by October 1.
For the transport sector, the ODEX (Energy Efficiency) is calculated out at the level of 8 modes or vehicle types: cars, trucks, light vehicles, motorcycles, buses, total air transport, rail, and water transport. The overall energy efficiency index aggregates the trends for each transport mode in a single indicator for the whole sector.
The figure shows the energy efficiency progress in transport as ODEX index
Summary of radiative forcing of different GHGs. The values represent the forcings in 2005 relative to the start of the industrial era (about 1750).
This map shows the location of Streamflow Gauging Stations in Europe, overlaid on the WFD RBDs. The map enables the user to view, select and display information on the location and characteristics of streamflow gauging stations across Europe. The stations depicted on the map represent points where discharge (streamflow) is measured (cubic metres per second) on a daily time step, allowing a comparison of the density and coverage of streamflow monitoring networks across Europe.
The map visualise the content of the Knowledge Base of "Europe's Environment Assessment of Assessments (EE-AoA)". Represented are assessment-reports on the thematic topics "water" and "green economy" registered in the Virtual Library and contact information of experts involved in the process of developing the EE-AoA report launched at the seventh "Environment for Europe" Ministerial Conference in Astana, 21-23 September 2011. Reports are visualised at the place of the organisation who conducted the assessment report.
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