Air pollution statistics - emission inventories

Data from July 2023

Planned article update: September 2024

Highlights

93 % reduction in sulphur oxide emissions in the EU between 1990 and 2021.

Emissions of fine particulate matter in the EU decreased by 50 % between 1990 and 2021.

Emissions of air pollutants, EU-27, 1990-2021

This article is about emissions of air pollutants classified by technical processes. These are recorded in emission inventories for air pollutants and form the official data for international policies on transboundary air pollution.

In addition, Eurostat disseminates emissions of air pollutants classified by emitting economic activities. These are recorded in air emissions accounts (AEA). Furthermore, Eurostat estimates and disseminates 'footprints' which are emissions of air pollutants classified by products that are finally demanded by households or government, or that are invested in or exported.

This article highlights the emission levels of the following most important air pollutants in the European Union (EU): sulphur oxides (SO_x), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), ammonia (NH₃), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). However, greenhouse gas emissions are not analysed here, but in the article Greenhouse gas emission statistics.

Full article

General overview

Air pollution harms human health and the environment. Nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter pollution pose serious health risks while Europe's sensitive ecosystem areas are affected by acid deposition of excess sulphur and nitrogen compounds (SO_x, NO_x, NH₃).

Air pollutants are emitted from human activities, mainly the combustion of fuels. Thanks to a wide range of environmental policy measures, emissions of air pollutants in Europe decreased significantly over the last 31 years.

Figure 1: Emissions of air pollutants, EU, 1990-2021
(Index 1990=100)
Source: European Environment Agency, also available at Eurostat (env_air_emis)

For the last 31 years (1990 to 2021) the EU recorded reductions in emissions of all air pollutants considered in this article (see Figure 1). The biggest fall was reported for sulphur oxides (SO_x), which decreased by 93 %, followed by nitrous oxides (NO_x) by 63 % and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) by 59 %. Emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) decreased by 50 % since the year 1990. The smallest decrease was reported for ammonia (NH₃) emissions: 32 % since 1990.

For detailed analysis of air pollutants consult the European Union emission inventory report 1990–2021 under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) (published by EEA).

Source data for tables and graphs

Air pollution statistics: tables and figures 2023

Data sources

Data in this article are based on the data reported in national emission inventories for air pollutants under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) and the EU National Emission Ceilings Directive (NEC). The principles and methodology to estimate air pollutant inventories are laid down in the EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook.

Within the EU inventory system, the European Environment Agency and its European Topic Centre on Air Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation are responsible for the annual compilation of the EU inventory. Air pollutant emission inventories record the emissions of a wide range of substances from sources classified according to the Nomenclature for Reporting (NFR).

Three perspectives of emission statistics for air pollutants

Eurostat presents three perspectives of emission statistics for air pollutants:

Perspective	Statistical framework	Purpose	Related data set	Related SE article
1. Emissions of air pollutants classified by economic activities	Air Emissions Accounts (AEA) by Eurostat	tailored for integrated environmental-economic analyses	env_air_aa	link
2. Emissions of air pollutants classified by technical processes	Emission inventories for air pollutants by UNECE	official international reporting framework for CLRTAP	env_air_emis	this article
3. 'footprints' = GHG emissions classified by final use of products	Modelling results published by Eurostat	one particular analytical application of AEA	env_ac_io10	not available

Emissions accounts versus emission inventories

The main differences between air emissions accounts (AEA) and emission inventories for air pollutants are:

Air emissions accounts – air pollutants (residence principle)	Emission inventories for air pollutants (territory principle)
Emissions are assigned to the country where the economic operator causing the emission is resident.	Emissions are assigned to the country where the emission takes place
Emissions are classified by economic activity, following the NACE classification of the system of national accounts.	Emissions are assigned to processes classified according to their technical nature (e.g. combustion in power plants, solvent use).
Emissions from international navigation and aviation are assigned to the countries where the operator of the ship/aircraft is resident, regardless of where the emission takes place.	Emissions from international navigation and aviation are assigned to the countries where the associated fuel is bunkered, irrespective of the operator's place of residence.

Note: National and EU totals differ between the two approaches, as different boundaries apply. GHG inventories include international aviation and maritime transport (international bunker fuels) as memorandum items, which mean that they are excluded from national totals reported. However, they are included in air emissions accounts totals. Therefore total emissions reported in GHG inventory databases can differ significantly from the total reported in air emissions accounts for countries with a large international aircraft and/or shipping fleet. AEA reconciles totals with emission inventories through so-called 'bridging items'.

Context

EU clean air policy aims to improve ambient air quality and tackle air pollution, to protect the environment and human health.

Clean air is essential to our health and to the environment. However, due to human activities causing polluting emissions, air quality has deteriorated considerably. These activities are notably linked to industry, energy production, domestic heating, agriculture and transport.

Air pollution is the number one environmental health problem in the EU. It causes serious illnesses such as asthma, cardiovascular problems and lung cancer, and vulnerable groups are affected the most. Air pollution also damages the environment and ecosystems through excess nitrogen pollution and acid rain. It is also costly for our economy, as it leads to lost working days and high healthcare costs.

To tackle air pollution and achieve the EU’s zero pollution vision for 2050, the EU has a comprehensive clean air policy based on three pillars: ambient air quality standards, reducing air pollution emissions, and emissions standards for key sources of pollution.