A European air pollutant report reveals a significant fall in the emissions of sulphur oxides and other ozone-forming pollutants over the last two decades.
The official EU emission inventory report compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that the 27 countries that make make up the European Union have collectively cut sulphur emissions (SOx) by 78 per cent since 1990.
The decline was particularly sharp during the latest reporting year, falling 20 per cent in 2008 compared to 2007-thanks in part to economic decline. The emissions of three ozone precursors — carbon (CO), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) — also continued the downward trend.
SOx is an important air pollutant that acidifies ecosystems and forms harmful fine particulate matter in the atmosphere. Since the early 1990s a combination of measures has helped reduce emissions, including introducing low sulphur fuels and fitting pollution control equipment in European industrial facilities. Lower emissions from public power plants in Bulgaria, Poland and Spain significantly contributed to the 20 per cent annual emission reduction in 2008. Spain, for example, reduced its SOx emissions by using less coal to generate electricity and instead relying on natural gas and renewables such as wind, photovoltaics and biomass.
NOx emissions from road transport decreased by 40 per cent since 1990, mainly due to the introduction of three‑way catalytic converters in passenger cars and stricter regulation of emissions from heavy goods vehicles across Europe. Road transport nevertheless remains the most important source of the ozone precursors NOx and CO, contributing 41 per cent and 34 per cent of EU-27 emissions in 2008.
However, in contrast to the road transport sector, NOx emissions from aviation have increased significantly. Since 1990, the share of total EU-27 emissions that derive from domestic and international flights has trebled to more than 5 per cent.
CO, NMVOCs and NOx are main contributors to the formation of ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant that can trigger respiratory problems, contribute to premature mortality and also damage plants, reducing agricultural crop yields. EU-27 emissions of these ozone emissions fell in 2008 in a number of Member States, including France, Spain and UK, particularly from public power plants.
