european commission - dg environment clean air for europe eu thematic strategy on air pollution...

European Commission - DG Environment

Clean Air for Europe

EU Thematic Strategy on Air PollutionEU Thematic Strategy on Air PollutionWorkshop on Review and Assessment of Workshop on Review and Assessment of

European Air Pollution PoliciesEuropean Air Pollution Policies

Gothenburg, 25-27 October 2005Gothenburg, 25-27 October 2005

Matti VainioMatti Vainio Peter Gammeltoft and Duncan Johnstone Peter Gammeltoft and Duncan Johnstone

Clean Air & Transport UnitClean Air & Transport UnitDG EnvironmentDG Environment



Existing air pollution policyExisting air pollution policy

AQ framework and daughter directivesAQ framework and daughter directives National Emission Ceilings (NEC) directiveNational Emission Ceilings (NEC) directive

Gothenburg Protocol of the Convention of Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

Vehicle emission and fuel quality standards Vehicle emission and fuel quality standards (Auto Oil programmes)(Auto Oil programmes)

Stationary sources (LCP, fuel distribution, Stationary sources (LCP, fuel distribution, IPPC…)IPPC…)

Products (e.g. solvents, paints)Products (e.g. solvents, paints)



Why Clean Air for Europe Why Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) programme?(CAFE) programme?

Continuing problems with air pollution, Continuing problems with air pollution, especially particulate matter and ozoneespecially particulate matter and ozone

Increasing evidence of adverse health Increasing evidence of adverse health effectseffects

Need to update and improve projections Need to update and improve projections and modellingand modelling

Difficulty in achieving AQ limit values Difficulty in achieving AQ limit values (especially NO(especially NO22 and particulate matter) and particulate matter)



Thematic Strategy on air pollution to be adopted Thematic Strategy on air pollution to be adopted in three years in three years

Using a “knowledge-based approach”Using a “knowledge-based approach” Objectives:Objectives:

Achieving levels of air quality that do not give rise to Achieving levels of air quality that do not give rise to significant negative impacts on and risks to human significant negative impacts on and risks to human health and the environment; (Art 7.1. of 6health and the environment; (Art 7.1. of 6thth EAP) EAP)

No exceedence of No exceedence of criticalcritical loads and levels for loads and levels for acidification or eutrophicationacidification or eutrophication

66thth Environment Action Programme Environment Action Programme (EAP) of July 2002 requires(EAP) of July 2002 requires



Air pollution relevant objectives Air pollution relevant objectives for environment and healthfor environment and health

Climate change and air Climate change and air pollution measures should pollution measures should be compatible.be compatible.

Improve the monitoring Improve the monitoring and assessment of air and assessment of air qualityquality

Improve the provision of Improve the provision of information to the public, information to the public, including by indicatorsincluding by indicators

Adopt appropriate Adopt appropriate measures concerning measures concerning ground-level ozone and ground-level ozone and particulatesparticulates

Play a leading role in the Play a leading role in the negotiations on and negotiations on and strengthening the links and strengthening the links and interactions with interactions with international processes international processes contributing to clean air in contributing to clean air in EuropeEurope

Develop Community Develop Community instruments to reduce instruments to reduce emissionsemissions

Art 7 (f) of 6EAPArt 7 (f) of 6EAP



Thematic Strategy is set to Thematic Strategy is set to

Strengthen a coherent and integrated policy on air Strengthen a coherent and integrated policy on air pollution to cover priorities for further actions, pollution to cover priorities for further actions, the review and updating where appropriate of air quality

standards and national emission ceilings with a view to reach the long term objective of no

exceedence of critical loads and levels and the development of better systems for gathering

information, modelling and forecasting; Thus, it will set goals and priorities for action, and Thus, it will set goals and priorities for action, and

will be accompanied by or followed by legislative will be accompanied by or followed by legislative proposals, as appropriate proposals, as appropriate Art 7 (f) of 6EAPArt 7 (f) of 6EAP



Stakeholder consultationStakeholder consultationin CAFEin CAFE

CAFE Steering Group CAFE Steering Group WG on ImplementationWG on Implementation WG on Particulate MatterWG on Particulate Matter WG on Target Setting and Policy AssessmentWG on Target Setting and Policy Assessment Ad hocAd hoc consultations consultations

Agricultural projections, CBA methodology, transport sector (TREMOVE model) projections

Workshops (e.g. Gothenburg) Peer review of key modelsPeer review of key models



3 pillars of CAFE3 pillars of CAFE

Scientific advice Scientific advice WHO Systematic review of Air Quality guidelines Advice of CLRTAP WG Effects on ecosystems

Integrated Assessment Modelling (IAM)Integrated Assessment Modelling (IAM) Least cost solutions for multi-pollutant/multi-effects

(human health and environment) Cost-Benefit AnalysisCost-Benefit Analysis

Peer-reviewed methodology based on regional scale modelling of pollutant dispersion



Emissions, health and Emissions, health and environment impacts up to 2020environment impacts up to 2020

Most emissions are decreasing though there are Most emissions are decreasing though there are exceptions (e.g. ammonia)exceptions (e.g. ammonia)

Air quality is improving for all pollutants Air quality is improving for all pollutants But still significant problems to be addressed

(e.g. particulate matter & ozone) Impacts on the natural environment (acidification Impacts on the natural environment (acidification

& damage from ozone) are reducing & damage from ozone) are reducing But still significant problems, particularly

eutrophication. Thematic Strategy will be mainly about making Thematic Strategy will be mainly about making

existing policies work better with some new existing policies work better with some new measures as well.measures as well.



Air quality problemsAir quality problems

WHO (Global burden of disease): WHO (Global burden of disease): About 100,000 people die every year prematurely due

to exposure to particulate matter in Europe WHO Systematic review: WHO Systematic review:

Currently PM shortens life expectancy by about 9 months in the EU, in some Member States up to 1 to 2 years

No safe level for human exposure to particulate matter in air

Smaller particles may be more damaging WHO/UNECE Task Force on Health:WHO/UNECE Task Force on Health:

No threshold for ozone effects on humans but analysis starts from background levels in air



Anthropogenic contributionAnthropogenic contributionto PMto PM2.52.5

2000 2010 2020

Rural concentrations, annual mean [µg/m3]from known anthropogenic sources excluding sec. org. aerosols Average of calculations for 1997, 1999, 2000 & 2003 meteorologies



Ecosystems impactsEcosystems impactsup to 2020up to 2020

Acidification of ecosystems is decreasingAcidification of ecosystems is decreasing But still two thirds of lakes in Southern Scandinavia at risk. About half of the forest plots in the European-wide survey for

forests (EU Forest Focus) are at risk.

Eutrophication of ecosystems widespreadEutrophication of ecosystems widespread Half of ecosystems with unsustainable levels of nitrogen

deposition.

Ozone exposure is reducing as peak levels decreaseOzone exposure is reducing as peak levels decrease But significant areas of European forests at risk from ozone

exposure at levels up to six times the safe level.



Acid deposition to forestsAcid deposition to forestsin in 20202020

Percentage of forest areawith acid deposition above critical

loads, using ecosystem-specific deposition.

Average of calculations for 1997, 1999, 2000 & 2003 meteorologies

Acidification of forests Acidification of forests continues …continues …

Source: CAFE Baseline, RAINS (2004)



Excess of critical loads for Excess of critical loads for eutrophicationeutrophication

Percentage of ecosystems area with nitrogen deposition above critical loads, using grid-average deposition. Average of calculations for 1997, 1999, 2000 & 2003 meteorologies

2000 2010 2020

Source: CAFE Baseline, RAINS (2004)



ConclusionsConclusions

With decreasing pollution, adverse impacts are expected to With decreasing pollution, adverse impacts are expected to decline in the futuredecline in the future

However, problems will not be entirely resolved:However, problems will not be entirely resolved: PM remains serious (about 5 months life expectancy loss in 2020)PM remains serious (about 5 months life expectancy loss in 2020) Ozone:Ozone:

Remains a significant cause for premature deaths Remains a significant cause for premature deaths (Several thousands cases in 2020)(Several thousands cases in 2020)

Vegetation damage: Vegetation damage: Wide-spread violations of long-term sustainable levels will prevailWide-spread violations of long-term sustainable levels will prevail

Acidification of ecosystems will not disappear, mainly due to Acidification of ecosystems will not disappear, mainly due to ammonia ammonia

Eutrophication remains unresolved again because of ammonia Eutrophication remains unresolved again because of ammonia emissionsemissions



Some possible measuresSome possible measures

Streamlining current Air Quality legislationStreamlining current Air Quality legislation Consolidation & simplification of ambient air quality legislation (e.g. Consolidation & simplification of ambient air quality legislation (e.g.

reporting)reporting) Improving implementation by Member StatesImproving implementation by Member States Introducing a air quality limit value for PMIntroducing a air quality limit value for PM2.52.5 Revising the NEC directiveRevising the NEC directive

Uptated vehicle emissions standards (Euro 5 and 6)Uptated vehicle emissions standards (Euro 5 and 6) Especially to reduce particulate matterEspecially to reduce particulate matter

Small scale combustionSmall scale combustion Product emission standards and Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control Product emission standards and Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control

to reduce emissions of particulate matter & nitrogen oxidesto reduce emissions of particulate matter & nitrogen oxides Integration measuresIntegration measures

Agriculture (IPPC, less fertiliser, animal waste disposal etc.)Agriculture (IPPC, less fertiliser, animal waste disposal etc.) Transport (charging & other measures to reduce pollution)Transport (charging & other measures to reduce pollution) Ship emissions (more action in the IMO for cleaner engines)Ship emissions (more action in the IMO for cleaner engines)



Next stepsNext steps

On-going consultation on optimisation scenarios (WG On-going consultation on optimisation scenarios (WG Target Setting and Policy Assessment, CAFE Steering Target Setting and Policy Assessment, CAFE Steering Group plus other events (eg. Gothenburg))Group plus other events (eg. Gothenburg))

Discuss outline of Thematic Strategy in CAFE Steering Discuss outline of Thematic Strategy in CAFE Steering Group (November 2004)Group (November 2004)

Public consultation (December 2004 - January 2005) Public consultation (December 2004 - January 2005) including possibly targeted consultationincluding possibly targeted consultation

Discuss content of Thematic Strategy in CAFE Steering Discuss content of Thematic Strategy in CAFE Steering Group (February 2005)Group (February 2005)

Send for Inter-Service consultation 1 April 2005Send for Inter-Service consultation 1 April 2005 Commission adoption in May 2005Commission adoption in May 2005

Presentation in the CAFE Steering Group in May 2005



Questions for working groupsQuestions for working groups

Given WHO and WG PM advice what ambient concentration of Given WHO and WG PM advice what ambient concentration of PM2.5 should be proposed?PM2.5 should be proposed? WG PM suggested 12-20 micrograms per cubic meter US standard is 15 micrograms per cubic meter

Assuming PMAssuming PM2.52.5 becomes the focus of attention, what should we do becomes the focus of attention, what should we do about PMabout PM1010?? Also, should changes be proposed in monitoring requirements?

What about ”supersite” monitoring of PM?What about ”supersite” monitoring of PM? Given WHO adviceGiven WHO advice

Keep NO2 concentration limit value untouched? Any changes to 3rd Daughter Directive on Ozone?

Main research needs for the period 2005-2015 in atmospheric Main research needs for the period 2005-2015 in atmospheric pollution in the EU and in the world?pollution in the EU and in the world?

Which measures should we specifically look into? Why? Which measures should we specifically look into? Why? Ideas for reducing ship emissions?



Questions (cont.)Questions (cont.)

NEC: How to reduce ammonia emissions, which is becoming a major NEC: How to reduce ammonia emissions, which is becoming a major source of impacts in acidification and eutrophication?source of impacts in acidification and eutrophication?

Pros and cons of introducing a ceiling for primary PMPros and cons of introducing a ceiling for primary PM2.52.5?? Given that hemispheric pollution is becoming increasingly Given that hemispheric pollution is becoming increasingly

important, what would be the pros and cons of introducing a NEC important, what would be the pros and cons of introducing a NEC ceiling for methane?ceiling for methane?

What, if anything, should we say about the instititutional framework What, if anything, should we say about the instititutional framework to control transboundary air pollution given:to control transboundary air pollution given: increased contribution of hemispheric background enlargement of the EU

We are planning to hold a specific web-based consultationWe are planning to hold a specific web-based consultation What would be your three favourite questions?

Using economic instruments, like (national) taxation/charging or Using economic instruments, like (national) taxation/charging or (either national or EU-level) emission trading(either national or EU-level) emission trading Should the Thematic Strategy encourage, discourage or be neutral?



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Conference on Policy Instruments to Reduce Air PollutionConference on Policy Instruments to Reduce Air Pollution

Brussels, 11-12 November 2004 Brussels, 11-12 November 2004

Organised by European Commission and the Network of Experts in Benefits and Organised by European Commission and the Network of Experts in Benefits and Economic Instruments of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Economic Instruments of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air PollutionPollution

Look at the ”application form”Look at the ”application form”

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/nebei_workshop/index.htmhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/nebei_workshop/index.htm

european commission - dg environment clean air for europe eu thematic strategy on air pollution...

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