Air pollutant emissions in the EU continue to fall, according to the Fourth Clean Air Outlook report published by the European Commission.

Despite this, ammonia emissions (NH3) remain worryingly flat and have even increased in some Member States in recent years, contributing to the EU missing the zero-pollution target related to reducing ecosystem areas at risk from air pollution.

Amonia, the fifth polluant

Over the past two decades, the EU has achieved substantial reductions in the emissions of four main air pollutants:

  • Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
  • Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs)
  • Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
  • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5)

This is a result of EU clean air legislation, source legislation and joint action taken by the EU with national, regional and local authorities. It has already generated positive outcomes for EU citizens’ health, the economy, and our environment.

Ammonia, the fifth main pollutant, remains an exception to this trend, as emissions have not fallen significantly. Ammonia emissions, which predominantly come from intensive livestock farming, manure and slurry management and fertiliser application, are a concern, as they contribute to excessive nitrogen presence in water ecosystems, leading to the known phenomenon of eutrophication, among other environmental negative impacts. Ammonia is also a precursor to fine particulate matter, which is very harmful to health.  

4 out of 21 members will achieve their emission reduction commitment

According to the results of the Fourth Clean Air Outlook, only four Member States (Estonia, Finland, Greece and Italy) are on course to achieve all their 2030 emission reduction commitments under current national measures and EU legislation. All other Member States must take additional measures to fulfil their obligations.

21 Member States need to take additional action to reduce ammonia emissions at the source, in particular by promoting good agricultural practices. Additional action is also needed to limit emissions of PM2.5, for which eight Member States are currently projected to miss their 2030 reduction commitments.

The Fourth Clean Air Outlook directly contributes to the Second Zero-Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC), published today, by analysing the prospect of achieving the two clean air-related zero-pollution action plan targets.

The targets are to reduce the health impacts (expressed as premature deaths) of air pollution by more than 55% by 2030 in the EU and to achieve a 25% reduction in ecosystems where air pollution endangers biodiversity, compared to 2005 levels. These actions contribute to the zero pollution ambition and to global efforts on One Health, which links human, animal and plant health to the status of the environment.

Plans for a zero pollution future

Overall, the EU is on track to meet the health-related target of the zero-pollution action plan. However, it is still not on track to meet the ecosystem-related target in 2030. Reducing ammonia emissions would contribute significantly to reducing eutrophication and thus improving ecosystem health. The implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation is also expected to result in further reduction of pollution pressures on ecosystems, as well as to increase overall ecosystem resilience.

To effectively reduce emissions and to meet the more ambitious air quality standards of the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive, existing legislation, including legislation to reduce emissions at source, e.g. in the transport and energy sectors, should be implemented in full.

Technical support for Member States, like the Technical Support Instrument and EU-funded research and innovation initiatives related to the prevention and remediation of air pollution, can also be used to expedite this process.

A new dashboard, published today alongside the Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook report, allows progress to be monitored over time and regions to be compared with each other and the EU average. The comparison is based on several environmental pollution indicators, including air pollution, that address health, ecosystem protection and biodiversity, as well as industrial emissions and urban wastewater.