Air pollution in Europe: 2024 reporting status under the National Emission reduction Commitments Directive

Progress towards the emission reduction commitments

The National Emission reduction Commitments Directive (NEC Directive)  sets obligations to reduce national emissions of five air pollutants, namely fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), ammonia (NH₃) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) (EU, 2016). The directive targets 2020-2029, with more ambitious obligations from 2030 onwards.

The analysis presented in this briefing is based on the latest air pollutant emission inventory data^[1] reported by Member States in 2024, which refer to emissions up to the year 2022. Member States have reported annual emissions since 1990 and particulate matter since 2000.

Status of achieving the 2020-2029 emission reduction commitments under the NEC Directive 

The most recent data (reported by Member States in 2022) indicate that 16 Member States met the emission reduction commitments set for 2020-2029 for all five main air pollutants. Reducing ammonia emissions continues to be the most significant challenge for a third of EU Member States.

Figure 1. Number of Member States that met their 2020-2029 national emissions reduction commitments for the five main air pollutants in 2022, and number of Member States that need to reduce their emission levels to meet their commitments

Notes: This information is based on data provided by Member States, not yet checked by the European Commission. The numbers are subject to change in relation to the results of the NEC Directive inventory review, including through approved flexibility applications.

Source: The air pollutant emission estimates reported in 2022.

Efforts needed to meet national emission reduction commitments for 2020-2029 

Most Member States achieved their national emission reduction commitments set for 2020-2029, according to 2022 data. However, 11 Member States failed to meet their emission reduction commitments in 2022 for at least one of the five main air pollutants.

Table 1. Percentage emission reductions required by EU Member States to meet their emission reduction commitments for 2020-2029

Note(s): 1. The reductions required are compared to 2022 levels. 
2. This information is based on data provided by Member States, not yet verified by the European Commission. The numbers are subject to change in relation to the results of the NEC Directive inventory review. 

3. The NEC Directive (Article 5(1)) establishes a process that allows Member States to adjust their emission inventories downwards for compliance checking. This can happen when failure to comply with the national emission reduction commitments is due to Member States having applied improved emission inventory methods, which have been updated in accordance with scientific knowledge developed since the reduction commitments were originally set. In 2024, two Member States submitted flexibility applications for an inventory adjustment (Ireland in relation to NMVOC, Czechia in relation to NH3). One Member State (Lithuania in relation to NH3) submitted a flexibility application under Article 5(3) of the NEC Directive which allows, under certain conditions, to compensate non-compliance with an emission reduction commitment by an equivalent emission reduction of another main pollutant. This assessment only takes into account the application by Ireland, given that it is a resubmission of a previously-approved application.

Source: The air pollutant emission estimates reported in 2022.

Since 2005, in many EU Member States, NH₃ emissions have decreased only slightly or in some cases increased. This highlights the need for more effective policies targeting the agriculture sector to apply well-established agricultural practices that bring down NH₃ emissions. This includes applying fertilisers and manure, and balancing feed for livestock.

Nine Member States will have to reduce NH₃ emissions further to meet their 2020-2029 national emission reduction commitments. NH₃ emissions impact biodiversity and contribute to forming secondary^[2] PM_2.5, the main air pollutant driving premature death in EU Member States. Reducing NH₃ emissions is critical to achieving the Zero Pollution Action Plan target to reduce by 25% the number of ecosystems in the EU where air pollution threatens biodiversity.

19 Member States are meeting the 2020-2029 national emission reduction commitments for NMVOC. New technologies and improved production processes in the main NMVOC emission sectors such as manufacturing, extractive industry and product use may reduce air pollutant emissions further.

Six Member States did not achieve the 2020-2029 national emission reduction commitments for NOx, according to 2022 emission data. A substantial reduction in NOx emissions — especially from road transport — is required to bring the emissions down to the required levels.

Romania and Hungary need to reduce their PM_2.5 emissions to meet their 2020-2029 national emission reduction commitments. PM_2.5 drives the most significant health problems and contributes to premature mortality, so reducing its emissions is critical to achieving the target of reducing the number of premature deaths by 55% by 2030, as set out in the Zero Pollution Action Plan. 

All Member States but one fulfilled their 2020-2029 national emission reduction commitments for SO_2. Cyprus still needs to reduce its SO₂ emissions by a further 43% to meet its commitment. The principal emission sources for this pollutant in the country are energy supply and manufacturing.

Progress towards the 2030 emission reduction commitments — the path to achieving a zero pollution Europe

New, stricter commitments will enter into force in 2030. Looking towards that milestone, all Member States except for Belgium and Finland need to reduce emissions for at least one pollutant to fulfil their 2030 commitments. The greatest challenge will be to reduce NH₃, NO_x and PM_2.5 emissions.

Even if a given country already meets the 2030 target for specific pollutants, current emission levels and trends suggest further measures need to be in place to avoid increases that would jeopardise these achievements.  

Figure 2. Number of Member States that had met their national emission reduction commitments for the five main air pollutants for 2030 and beyond in 2022, and number of Member States that need to reduce emissions to meet their commitments

Notes: This information is based on data provided by Member States, not yet checked by the European Commission. The numbers are subject to change in relation to the results of the NEC Directive inventory review, including through approved flexibility applications. 

Source: The air pollutant emission estimates reported in 2022.

Efforts needed to meet national emission reduction commitments from 2030 and beyond   

Member States need to do more to achieve the national emission reduction commitments set from 2030 and beyond. Only two Member States are already meeting their 2030 emission reduction commitments based on the 2022 data for at least one of the five main air pollutants. In several instances, the distance to the target is very significant and requires far stronger action.

Table 2. Percentage emission reductions required by EU Member States to meet their emission reduction commitments for 2030 onwards

Notes: 1. The emission reductions required are compared to 2022 levels.

2. This information is based on data provided by Member States, not yet verified by the European Commission. The estimates are subject to change in relation to the results of the NEC Directive inventory review.

3. The NEC Directive (Article 5(1)) establishes a process that allows Member States to adjust their emission inventories downwards for compliance checking. This can happen when failure to comply with the national emission reduction commitments is due to Member States having applied improved emission inventory methods, which have been updated in accordance with the latest scientific knowledge developed since the reduction commitments were originally set. In 2024, two Member States submitted flexibility applications for an inventory adjustment (Ireland in relation to NMVOC, Czechia in relation to NH₃). One Member State (Lithuania in relation to NH₃) submitted a flexibility application under Article 5(3) of the NEC Directive which allows, under certain conditions, to compensate non-compliance with an emission reduction commitment by an equivalent emission reduction of another main pollutant. This assessment only takes into account the application by Ireland, given that it is a resubmission of a previously approved application.

Source(s): The air pollutant emission estimates reported in 2022.

Regarding NH₃ emissions, nine Member States had already met their 2030 emission reduction commitments in 2022. Challenges remain, however, as two-thirds of Member States still need to reduce NH₃ emissions to meet their 2030 targets. The European Commission’s Third Clean Air Outlook report concluded that current measures — especially in the agriculture sector — are not enough to reduce NH₃ emissions to the necessary extent in order to meet emission reduction commitments. It recommended further measures be put in place in several Member States (EC, 2022b).

Seven Member States had already met their 2030 emission reduction commitments for PM_2.5 emissions by 2022. Effective emission reduction measures in the energy sector will be crucial for meeting the emission reduction commitments for PM_2.5: burning solid biomass and fossil fuels for residential heating still contributes significantly to emissions in some Member States. Actions to reduce emissions include improving insulation and upgrading heating systems, installing low-emission boilers or switching fuel types. Significant emissions of particulate matter also result from the manufacturing and extractive industries and from road transport, including from internal combustion engines and from tyre and brake wear in vehicles.

Six Member States met their NO_x emission reduction commitments for 2030 in 2022. However, 21 Member States will need to reduce NO_x emissions further. Efforts to reduce NOx emissions should focus on the road transport sector. This is the main source of reported NO_x emissions, followed by the energy supply sector.  

For emissions of NMVOCs, 15 Member States met their 2030 emission reduction commitments in 2022. As the manufacturing and extractive industry sector is the main emission source, reduction measures for this pollutant should focus on industrial sectors.

The picture for SO₂ emissions is more positive overall. Five Member States face a significant challenge to meet the emission reduction commitments in 2030. Energy supply is the principal source of SO₂ emissions in the EU, with the manufacturing and extractive industry sector being the second-largest contributor.

Main sources of air pollutants in 2022

The economic sectors responsible for emissions to air vary by pollutant. Variations between Member States also exist due to different economic structures. This section of the briefing displays a visual representation of air pollutant sources. It addresses a broader range of air pollutants than those covered by emission reduction commitments in the NEC Directive (Figure 4).

Figure 3. Contributory sectors and activities to the five regulated air pollutant emissions in EU Member States

Source: The air pollutant emission estimates reported in 2022.

Figure 4. Contributory sectors and activities to the wider group of air pollutant emissions in EU Member States

Source: The air pollutant emission estimates reported in 2022.

Past trends in air pollutant emissions, 2005-2022

Total air pollutant emissions across EU Member States declined slightly in 2022, maintaining the overall downward trend observed since 2005. Figure 5 shows the trend in total emissions, indexed as a percentage of their value in the reference year 2005 and set against gross domestic product (GDP) as a percentage of the 2005 value. 

From 2005 to 2022, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ emissions fell by 33% and 32%, respectively. Emissions of SO₂ fell significantly between 2005 to 2022 with a decrease of 74%. Major reductions were also seen for nitrogen oxides (44%), black carbon (43%), carbon monoxide (41%) and NMVOCs (20%).

Notably, NH₃ emissions fell by only 16% — the least out of any pollutant.

Figure 5. Trends in EU emissions of NH₃, NMVOCs, NO_x, primary PM₁₀, primary PM_2.5, BC, SO₂ and CO, 2005-2022

Notes: GDP is the gross domestic product at market prices in euros. 

Source: The air pollutant emission estimates reported in 2022.

Figure 6 shows trends in the total emissions of heavy metals and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in EU Member States. These are indexed as a percentage of their value in the reference year 2005 and set against EU Member States’ GDP as a percentage of the 2005 value. Emissions of nickel (Ni) and arsenic (As) fell by 63% and 60%, respectively, while mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) emissions fell by 52%, 43% and 39%, respectively. Emissions of BaP fell by just 20%.

Figure 6. Trends in EU emissions of benzo(a)pyrene, cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic and nickel, 2005-2022

Notes: GDP is the gross domestic product at market prices in euros.

Source: The air pollutant emission estimates reported in 2022.

Emissions showed a significant absolute decoupling from economic activity between 2005 and 2022. Absolute decoupling occurs when an environmental impact variable, such as air pollutant emissions, remains stable or decreases while GDP increases. This leads to lower emissions of main air pollutants for each unit of GDP produced annually. Figures 5 and 6 both show that air pollutant emissions across EU Member States declined between 2005 and 2022, even as GDP increased by 61%. The greatest decoupling is seen for SO₂, followed by NO_x, BC, CO and certain metals (Ni, As and Hg).

The decoupling of emissions from economic activity may be the result of a combination of factors, such as increased regulation and policy implementation, fuel switching, technological improvements, and improvements in energy or process efficiencies.