Sectoral emissions of air pollutants

2.3. Sectoral emissions of air pollutants

The transport sector has considerably reduced its emissions of air pollutants in Europe over the past 15 years, as Figures 2.2 and 2.3 show, with the exception of BaP and Cd emissions. BaP emissions, have increased by, respectively, 142 % and 141% in the EU-28 and the EEA-33 countries from 2000 to 2014; and Cd emissions have increased by 6 % in both EU-28 and EEA-33. The highest emission reductions from transport between 2000 and 2014 were registered for SO_x (80 % in the EU-28 and 82 % in the EEA-33) and for NMVOCs (75 % in the EU-28 and 71 % in the EEA-33). The reductions in emissions of As and Hg were the least pronounced (As: 5 % and Hg: 15 % in the EU-28).

The transport sector is the largest contributor to NO_x emissions, accounting for 46 % of total EU-28 emissions (and 47 % of EEA-33 emissions) in 2014. However, NO_x emissions from road transport have not been reduced as much as expected with the introduction of the vehicle emissions standards (European standards) over past decades, since emissions in real-life driving conditions are often higher, especially for diesel vehicles, than those measured during the approval test (see Box 6.1). Transport also remains a very important source of GHGs within the EU; between 1990 and 2014, GHGs from transport increased by 13 % in the EU-28 plus Iceland (EEA, 2016g).

Transport also contributed to 13 % and 15 % of the total PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 primary emissions, respectively, in the EU Member States in 2014. Non-exhaust emissions from road traffic (which are not included in Figure 2.2) contribute to the total road-traffic emission contribution. Non-exhaust emissions are estimated to equal about 50 % of the exhaust emissions of primary PM₁₀, and about 22 % of the exhaust emissions of primary PM_2.5 (ETC/ACC, 2010a). It has been shown that even with zero tail-pipe emissions, traffic will continue to contribute to PM emissions through non-exhaust emissions (Dahl et al., 2006; Kumar et al., 2013). It is estimated that nearly 90 % of total PM emissions from road traffic will come from non-exhaust sources by the end of the decade (Rexeis and Hausberger, 2009). In addition, emissions from international shipping within European seas may contribute an additional 15 % of the total PM_2.5 emissions and as much as an additional 50 % of total NO_x and 75 % of total SO_x emissions in the EU-28 (estimated for the year 2010) (EEA, 2013c).

The commercial, institutional and households fuel combustion sector dominates the emissions of primary PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, BC, BaP and CO, contributing to 40 % and to 56 % of the total primary PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 emissions, respectively, and to 46 %, 71 % and 45 % of the total BC, BaP, and CO emissions, respectively, in the EU-28 in 2014. Reported BaP emissions have increased by 3 % from 2000 to 2014 in the EU-28, and by 2 % in the EEA-33 countries. In addition, this sector has increased its emissions of NH₃, Pb, Cd, Hg and As, in both the EU-28 and the EEA-33.

The use of household wood and other biomass combustion for heating is growing in some countries, owing to government incentives/subsidies, rising costs of other energy sources, and an increased public perception that it is a ‘green’ option. More information on this topic is given in chapter 3.

As for industry, energy production and distribution has made considerable reductions in its emissions. It is, however, still the biggest emitter of SO_x (and Ni, see above), contributing to 58 % and 61 % of total SO_x EU-28 and EEA-33 emissions in 2014, respectively. The energy sector is the second most significant emitter of Hg, As, and NO_x, contributing to 40 %, 21 %, and 20 %, respectively, of its total emissions in the EU-28 in 2014. From 2000 to 2014 energy cut its emissions of all pollutants, with the only exception being NH₃, to whose emissions it contributes less than 0.5 %.

The contribution of the waste sector to the total emissions of air pollutants is relatively small, with the exception of CH₄. Waste management is the second highest emitter of CH₄, after agriculture, accounting for 29 % of the total CH₄ emissions in the EU-28 in 2014. It has cut its CH₄ emissions by 41 % from 2000 to 2014.