Air pollutant emissions above legal limits in Europ
Air pollutant emissions in the EU continue to exceed legal limits, according to a report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). The 'NEC Directive status report 2014' confirms that a number of countries did so. Key findings are:
• Ten Member States exceeded at least one ceiling in 2013. Germany exceeded three of the four emission ceilings (NOx, NMVOCs and NH3), while Austria (NOx and NH3), Denmark (NMVOCs and NH3) and Ireland (NOx and NMVOCs) exceeded two ceilings in 2013
• Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland and Luxembourg exceeded their NOx emission ceilings in 2010-2013. Luxembourg (41%) and Austria (32%) exceeded their NOx emission ceilings by the greatest amount in 2013.
• NOx reductions from road transport have been lower than anticipated because (a) transport has grown more than expected, and (b) the number of diesel vehicles increased.
• Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Netherlands and Spain have persistent problems meeting their national emission limits for NH3.
• 95% of NH3 emissions stem from agriculture, mainly from the use of fertilizers and the handling of animal manure.
