EU states 'failed to meet air pollution levels'

Some 11 EU member states were in breach of at least one emissions limit during 2012, new data from the European Environment Agency has revealed. Each of the member states breached one or more of their individual limits that are issued under the National Emissions Ceiling Directive.

New analysis of data has found that 12 member states had exceeded at least one air pollution 'ceiling' under the directive, which is an increase on the number of states that failed to stay within all limits in 2011 (10). It was found that the most breached ceiling limits, of which there are four - ammonia, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) and sulphur dioxide - was nitrogen oxide. A total of nine member states exceeded their individual limits for this type of pollutant.

Emissions created by road transport throughout Europe is one of the biggest contributors to air pollution levels throughout member states, creating around 40 per cent of a country's overall emissions. The latest analysis of data has found that reductions made in road traffic emissions over the last two decades have not been as great as was originally hoped for.

The European Environment Agency revealed that France, Austria, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany have all breached the limits for nitrogen oxide emissions throughout 2010, 2011 and 2012. Other countries have also persistently failed to bring air pollution below the agreed-upon ceilings, such as Finland and Denmark, which have exceeded ammonia levels consecutively for three years.

Hans Bruyninckx, executive director of the European Environment Agency, said:  “Air pollution is still a very real problem - just look at the high concentrations of air pollution recently seen across large areas of western Europe.

“We need to improve this situation by making further emissions cuts. While new technologies and practices can help, we also need to encourage individuals to take action, for example by encouraging alternatives to car use.”

A more detailed analysis of the data is due to be published around June this year.