In the EU, ammonia (NH3) emissions increased by 0.4% in 2017, a confirmed upward trend for the fourth consecutive year, mainly due to agriculture, according to a report published on Friday 28 June by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
This report concerns the EU's NEC Directive, setting national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants and is based on the latest data available from Member States (see EUROPE 11685/36).
Over the period 2014-2017, NH3 emissions increased by about 2.5% due to the lack of emission reductions in agriculture.
In 2017, six Member States - Germany, Austria, Croatia, Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland - failed to meet their individual reduction commitments for this pollutant.
In the same year, total emissions of the four main air pollutants - nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ammonia - were as a whole below the respective caps set for the EU.
However, according to updated projections reported by Member States, an increasing number of them are expected to miss their reduction commitments for 2020 and 2030. If the EU wants to meet its targets for 2030, a more substantial reduction will be required for all pollutants covered by the NEC Directive, the EEA stresses. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)