Document
Actions - Published: - Particulate matter
and ground-level ozone remain important
air pollutants in Europe. Despite improvements
due to EU legislation, they continue to
have a heavy toll on human health especially
in southern and eastern Europe. Two reports
released today by the European Environment
Agency (EEA) shed light on Europe’s air
quality.
One in four Europeans
endured many days of frequent and high concentrations
of particulate matter (PM10) in 2005, according
to the EEA technical report "Spatial
assessment of PM10 and ozone concentrations
in Europe (2005)". In addition to these
daily peaks above EU thresholds, one in
ten Europeans was exposed throughout the
year to persistent PM10 levels higher than
the EU’s annual mean limit.
Across the EU, PM10
is estimated to have caused approximately
373 000 premature deaths in 2005. Large
areas of eastern Europe and the Po Valley
in northern Italy but also parts of the
Balkans, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg,
the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain were
particularly likely to record daily levels
above the limit, especially in more urbanized
environments. Urban areas of the Balkans,
the Czech Republic, Hungary, southern Poland
and southern Spain were especially likely
to report excessive levels throughout the
year.
The report records similar
findings for ground-level ozone, with more
than a third of the European population
exposed to ozone levels higher than the
EU’s target value. Health impacts of ozone
appear to be lower than those of PM10, ranging
from 75 premature deaths per million inhabitants
(for south-eastern and southern Europe)
to less than 10 per million (northern and
north-western Europe) in 2005.
Number of ozone episodes
down but…
The second technical report "Air pollution
by ozone across Europe during summer 2008"
asserts that, by several measures, ozone
levels during last summer were the lowest
since Europe-wide reporting began in 1997.
Nevertheless, all EU Member States and eight
other European countries exceeded the long-term
objectives set by EU legislation.
With measurements of
399 and 302 µg per cubic metre, the
highest one-hour concentrations were recorded
in Lazio region in Italy. Several measuring
stations in Belgium, Greece, Italy, Spain
and Switzerland also reported high concentrations
of between 240 and 300 µg per cubic
metre.
Overview of air quality
limits
EU air quality legislation sets two legally
binding limit values for PM10 mass concentrations:
annual mean levels exceeding
40 µg PM10 per cubic metre;
PM10 concentrations exceeding 50 µg
cubic metre on more than 35 days per year.
A new air quality directive
was adopted in April 2008. For the first
time, it sets legally binding limit values
for PM2.5 levels (fine particulate matter)
to be attained in 2015.
Regarding ground-level
ozone concentrations, EU legislation sets
one target value, which is not legally binding:
Eight-hour average ozone
concentrations shall not exceed 120 µg
per cubic metre on more than 25 days per
calendar year.
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EEA co-hosts media-environment
conference
Document Actions - Published:
- The European Environment Agency is this
week collaborating with the Calouste Gulbenkian
Foundation and the Instituto de Ciências
Sociais da Universidade de Lisboa to host
an international conference: 'The media
and the environment — between complexity
and urgency'.
The event, taking place
in Lisbon from 2 to 3 April, brings together
journalists, scientists, public officials,
NGOs and business sector representatives
to consider the complexities and trade-offs
involved in media reporting of scientific
controversies. EEA Executive Director Professor
Jacqueline McGlade will be joined by prominent
academics, media professionals and policymakers
from across the globe in delivering speeches
that will guide discussions.
Participants will explore
the routines and biases that frame issues,
including the role of media companies. They
will seek to identify economic, political,
legal and cultural measures that can help
improve reporting, as well as looking into
opportunities for future scientific research
on the interaction of the media and the
environment.
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A first glimpse at 2008
emissions trading data
Document Actions - Published:
03 Apr 2009 - The European Environment Agency
(EEA) is launching a revamped version of
its EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) data
viewer, allowing users to retrieve easily
the latest greenhouse gas emissions covered
by the EU ETS up to 2008. Data available
as of 1st April 2009 covers more than 80
% of the emissions encompassed within the
EU ETS.
This preliminary data
indicates that a reduction of emissions
has taken place in the main emitting sectors
between 2007 and 2008. The data viewer can
generate customised graphs and tables showing
emissions released by combustion plants,
oil refineries, coke ovens, iron and steel
plants, and factories making cement, glass,
lime, brick, ceramics, pulp and paper in
any EU Member State. Data comes from the
CITL (Community Independent Transaction
Log) and will be updated once 2008 emissions
data are complete.
The viewer shows, for
the first time, emissions data from the
second trading period (2008-2012) of the
EU ETS. This phase corresponds to the initial
commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol
during which EU Member States must meet
their targets for limiting or reducing emissions
of greenhouse gases.
The EU ETS viewer has
a similar look and feel to some of the popular
data viewing tools released by the European
Environment Agency, such as the greenhouse
gas viewer.
About the EU Emission
Trading Scheme
The EU ETS is the largest multi-country,
multi-sector greenhouse gas emission trading
scheme world-wide. It is based on the Directive
2003/87/EC and started operating in January
2005. The ultimate goal of the EU ETS is
to help combat climate change under the
Kyoto Protocol and is the first international
trading system for GHG in the world.
The scheme covers more
than 12 000 installations in the 27 Member
States ranging from oil refineries and power
plants to cement, iron and ceramic production
facilities. Emissions from these sectors
account for nearly 40 % of the European
Union total greenhouse gas emissions.
Published: - Transport
continues to contribute disproportionally
to Europe's greenhouse gas emissions, poor
air quality and noise; and still uses the
least efficient modes to move people and
goods.
The findings are set
out in the report 'Transport at a crossroads',
launched today at the European Parliament
in Brussels by Professor Jacqueline McGlade,
EEA Executive Director, "We know the
technology exists to tackle impacts of the
transport sector on Europe's environment.
However, many vehicles rolling off production
lines are anything but green, the freight
sector still favours the least efficient
transport modes and railways across the
EU still do not have a unified system."
"At a time when
we need to tackle our economic and environmental
problems through sustainable and green solutions,
trends in transport are pointing in the
wrong direction; and will continue to contribute
to air pollution, rising emissions of greenhouse
gas and many negative environmental impacts."
said Professor McGlade.
Emissions of GHG have
increased by 26 % or 180 million tonnes,
between 11000 and 2006, excluding international
aviation and marine transport (EU-15). Representing
a higher increase than the annual national
emissions for 2006 from Belgium; 132 million
tonnes, or Romania; 157million tonnes.(1)
Between 1996 and 2006 the total freight
volume measured in tonne-kilometres for
EU member states increased by 35 % or 650
M tonne-km, significantly more than the
total freight transport of Germany. Rail
freight and inland waterways saw a decline
in market share
Between 1995 and 2006 car ownership levels
in EU-27 increased by 22 %, or 52 Million
cars. Representing an increase equivalent
to the entire fleet of UK and Spain put
together. The number of kilometres travelled
by passengers in EEA member countries grew
by 65million kilometres in 2006.
Air pollutants from vehicles are declining,
but air quality is still a problem across
Europe
Decoupling transport growth from economic
growth
Well designed policies to manage demand
for transport can reduce transport volumes.
This would improve the transport efficiency
of the economy and decouple transport growth
from economic growth. The report also confirms
that price signals play a major role in
the choices made by consumers; with a 20%
increase in demand for bus services related
to a 10% increase in fuel prices.
"We still need
clear, measurable, realistic and time related
targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
air emissions and noise from transport.
Perhaps more critically, consumers have
indicated through their reaction to volatile
prices last year, that fuel and road pricing
clearly has a role to play in tackling transport
demand." says Professor McGlade.
Background on the report
The report 'Transport at a crossroads' is
the annual publication from the EEA's Transport
and Environment Reporting Mechanism (TERM),
which monitors the progress and effectiveness
of attempts to integrate transport and environment
strategies. TERM reports have been published
since 2000 and offer important insights
that can help the development of EU policies.
The report aims to cover all EEA member
countries.
EEA member countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovak Republic,
Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United
Kingdom.
About the European Environment
Agency (EEA)
The EEA is based in Copenhagen. The agency
aims to help achieve significant and measurable
improvement in Europe's environment through
the provision of timely, targeted, relevant
and reliable information to policy makers
and the public.
For media enquiries please contact
Òscar Romero Sanchez
