Published: Feb 22, 2012
Last modified: Feb 22, 2012 - Twelve Member
States exceeded one or more of the emission
limits set by the EU National Emission Ceilings
(NEC) Directive, according to recent official
data for 2010 reported to the European Environment
Agency (EEA). In some instances the limits
were exceeded by significant amounts.
These pollutants contribute
to health problems and can also lead to
economic losses and environmental damage.
The EEA data shows that many EU Member States
missed the 2010 limits, so these countries
will need to make further efforts to help
reduce air pollution in Europe.
For the first time,
preliminary data recently reported to the
EEA by Member States allow a comparison
with the legally binding emission limits
for 2010 set in the EU NEC Directive. The
directive covers four main air pollutants:
sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx),
non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs)
and ammonia (NH3). These pollutants can
cause respiratory problems, contribute to
the acidification of soil and surface water,
and damage vegetation. The ceilings set
in the NEC directive were designed to reduce
such adverse impacts by an agreed amount.
"These pollutants contribute to health
problems and can also lead to economic losses
and environmental damage," EEA Executive
Director Prof. Jacqueline McGlade said.
"The EEA data shows that many EU Member
States missed the 2010 limits, so these
countries will need to make further efforts
to help reduce air pollution in Europe."
The pollutant for which most exceedances
were registered was NOx. Preliminary analysis
shows eleven Member States exceeding their
respective NOx ceilings (Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg,
Malta, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden) (see
Table 1).
The road transport sector is one of the
main contributory factors behind the large
number of NOx exceedances, contributing
approximately 40 % of total EU-27 NOx emissions.
Reductions of NOx from this sector over
the last 2 decades have not been as large
as originally anticipated. This is partly
because the sector has grown more than expected
and partly because vehicle emission standards
have not always delivered the anticipated
level of NOx reductions.
Spain was the only Member State to have
exceeded three of its four emission ceilings
under the NECD; followed by Germany with
two exceedances. Finland exceeded its ammonia
ceiling.
+ More
Soil protection critical
for Europe's economy and ecosystems
Published: Feb 14, 2012
Last modified: Feb 14, 2012 - Soil is one
of the planet's invaluable resources but
continues to be degraded in Europe. Together,
the mineral particles, water, air, organic
matter, and living organisms that constitute
soil perform key functions which underpin
our society.
Soil is a vital,
non-renewable resource for ecosystems, playing
an essential role in services such as water
purification and food production. It is
also a major global carbon sink, with significant
potential to remove climate-changing gases
from the atmosphere.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) has
joined forces with the European Commission’s
Joint Research Centre on 'The state of soil
in Europe', a comprehensive scientific report
highlighting the need to protect and maintain
soil in a co-ordinated way across the European
Union. The report warns that failure to
tackle increased soil degradation could
eventually compromise food production. Moreover,
degraded soil is less able to prevent droughts
and flooding and stop biodiversity loss.
The EEA reported in its last flagship report
that Europe's soils are subject to erosion
and landslides. Organic matter and biodiversity
are both declining in some areas, while
compaction, salinisation, and contamination
are also significant issues. All these problems
have considerable economic and environmental
consequences. For example, soil erosion
by water affects around 16% of Europe's
land area. It is largely the result of poor
land management, such as deforestation,
overgrazing, construction activities and
forest fires.
For further information on the threats to
Europe's soils, see the 2010 EEA assessment,
which includes a summary of key facts and
key messages. These sources focus on how
unsustainable human use and management of
land is leading to increased soil degradation,
and the loss of a resource that is fundamental
to life on the planet.
