In the European Parliament yesterday MEPs backed plans for more ambitious national caps on emissions of key pollutants, including methane from waste management activities, by 2030 – as well as NOx, particulates and sulphur dioxide.
The new legislation sets out national emission reduction commitments for sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), ammonia (NH3), and fine particulates (less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter).
The proposed pollution cuts would reduce health impacts of air pollution by around 50% by 2030.
According to the European Environment Agency, these pollutants come from various sources:
Most methane (CH4) emissions come from the agriculture, waste and energy sectors
Particulate matter (PM) is emitted mainly by heating, industry and transport
NOx is emitted mainly by the transport sector
SOx emissions come mostly from energy production and non-road transport
Almost all NH3 emissions come from agriculture
CO emissions come from heating and transport.
However, member states insisted on excluding methane from the scope of the directive. Although the EU Commission confirmed that it could trigger a review on this point. The resolution was approved by 499 votes to 177, with 28 abstentions.
Car emissions As advocated by MEPs, the text reiterates the EU commitment to identifying and responding to source control legislation that is failing to work, as demonstrated by the discrepancy between real-world emissions and NOx test emissions from EURO 6 diesel cars.
The plans had already been informally agreed with the Dutch Presidency of the Council.
According to the EU air pollution causes about 400,000 premature deaths in its Member States per year.
“Air pollution is the number one environmental cause of death in the EU,” said lead MEP Julie Girling (ECR, UK).
“The political backdrop has changed dramatically over the course of the last three years, with the issue of air quality coming up the public agenda to an unprecedented level, in combination with the VW scandal and the issue of real driving emissions,” Girling continued. “Perhaps there is also the recognition that we have spent the last decade concentrating so much on CO2, that we neglected air quality.”
“I believe strongly that this vote is a step in the right direction. It is not a perfect solution, but it will go a long way to make important health improvements for our citizens,” she concluded.
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