Key air pollutant emissions targeted for reductions and monitored under EU legislation continued to decline across most EU Member States, according to the latest data assessment published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today. However, reducing ammonia emissions continues to present a bigger challenge.
In 2023, 19 Member States met their respective 2020-2029 national emission reduction commitments under the EU’s National Emission reduction Commitments Directive (NECD) for each of the five main air pollutants (nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, ammonia, sulphur dioxide and fine particulate matter), according to the EEA assessment. Eight Member States failed to do so for at least one of five main air pollutants, most commonly ammonia, predominantly emitted from agriculture.
Other key findings
- The biggest challenge is reducing ammonia emissions. Despite a larger number of countries having met their commitment in 2023, compared to 2022, six Member States still need to cut their emissions further to reach their 2020-2029 reduction commitments.
- The most significant progress has been made in reducing sulphur dioxide emissions, with 25 Member States having already met their 2030 reduction commitments.
- Many Member States will find it a significant challenge to achieve the more stringent emission reduction commitments set for 2030 and beyond.
Reporting under UNECE Air Convention
Today, the EEA also published the annual European Union emission inventory report 1990-2023, under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (UNECE Air Convention). Pollutants addressed in the report are the five main air pollutants mentioned above but also others such as heavy metals, black carbon and persistent organic pollutants.
Reported emissions to air of the five main pollutants were lower in 2023 than in 2005 confirming a continued downward trend in EU emissions. Sulphur dioxide emissions have been reduced the most followed by nitrogen oxides. Ammonia emissions have reduced less when compared to the other main pollutants.
The EEA report assesses progress towards achieving the air pollutant emissions reduction commitments under the Gothenburg Protocol to the UNECE Air Convention.
Background
Under the National Emission reduction Commitments (Directive (NECD), EU Member States are required to meet national commitments to reduce emissions for five main air pollutants to deliver clean air for human health and the environment.
The air pollutants have significant negative impacts on human health and the environment, which is why they were included within the scope of both the Gothenburg Protocol to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (UNECE Air Convention) and the NECD, the latter transposing the international requirements into EU law.
The EEA analysis is based on the latest air pollutant emission inventory data for 2023, as reported in 2025 by Member States both under the NECD and the UNECE Air Convention.
The European Commission is currently conducting an evaluation of the NECD, to be completed by end 2025, which will assess in more detail to what extent the Directive has reached its objective of protecting human health and the environment.
