Ammonia and, to a lesser extent, fine particles remain a problem for air quality in the EU and its prospects for 2030, according to the report on the implementation of the National Emission Ceilings Directive (EU 2016/2284, ‘NEC’ Directive) published on 8 January by the Commission.
This directive covers five pollutants: nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
The report published in June showed that most Member States were not on track to meet their targets (see EUROPE 12515/25, 12285/13).
This new report complements it by taking into account the additional measures announced by the EU-27.
It shows that, if the whole package of Clean Air Europe and climate legislation were properly implemented - the standards of the Ambient Air Quality Directives (2004/107 and 2008/50), emission standards for the main sources of pollution (vehicle and ship emissions, energy, and industry), the States could be on track to meet their targets for four out of the five pollutants covered by the NEC Directive.
However, these measures would not be sufficient to reduce ammonia emissions (90% of which come from agriculture) to the maximum permitted levels, as 15 Member States would still need to take urgent measures beyond those announced in their national programmes (see EUROPE 12285/13).
The proportion of the EU population living in areas meeting current WHO guidelines for fine particles could more than double by 2030 compared to 2015. However, this would still leave at least 12% of the EU population in 2030 exposed to levels of fine particles above the WHO’s recommended limits.
The Commission’s report will be taken into account in the EU’s ‘Zero Pollution’ action plan, which will, among other things, aim to bring EU standards more into line with those of the WHO (see EUROPE 12607/13).
To read the report: https://bit.ly/3hW3dhR (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)