Sulphur and nitrogen emissions continue to fall in EU-15

Brussels, 17 October 2006

The European Environmental Agency has published an annual inventory report on transboundary air pollution which finds that emissions of nitrogen oxides are down by 30% since the early 1990s, but that data remains incomplete.

The report, 'Annual European Community LRTAP Convention emission inventory 1990-2004' also found that emissions of sulphur (SOx), as reported by Member States, dropped by 70% between 1990 and 2004 within the EU-15.

The emissions reductions took place in many sectors - transport, energy, agriculture and waste. Emission reductions were also recorded for other major air pollutants - carbon monoxide (-50%) ammonia (-8%) and non methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) (-45%).

The inventory report is based on data from Member States and compiled by the European Environment Agency on behalf of the European Commission as part of the Community's legal reporting obligations to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (UNECE LRTAP Convention).

The information contained in the report is needed from Member States so that the Commission can assess current and projected EU progress towards meeting the Kyoto Protocol emission targets.

In its conclusions, the authors write that the inventory of total emissions of air pollutants for the EU-25 still suffered from incomplete data from Member States, and called on Member States to increase their submission of data.

In addition, the report recommends a more formal Quality Assurance and Quality Control plan for procedures.

For further information, please visit: http:///reports.eea.europa.eu/technical_r eport_2006_8/en