Acidifying substances: emissions 1990-2002
Emissions of acidifying substances have fallen sharply since 1990. Emissions continued to fall in 2002 and 2003.
Sharp fall in emissions of acidifying substances since 1990
Emissions of ammonia (NH3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulphur dioxide (SO2) on the basis of the National Emission Ceiling (NEC) protocol have fallen considerably in the period 1990-2002 by approximately 45%, 30% and 65% respectively. The emissions shown do not include those from ocean-going shipping, which amounted to 123 million kg of NOx and 71 million kg of SO2 in 2002.
The fall in ammonia emissions from Agriculture and horticulture since 1990 is a result of the low-emission approach to spreading manure (Van der Hoek, 2002) and the reduction in the size of the livestock herd. A further fall in 2003 was mainly caused by the decimation of the poultry population by the fowl plague.
The largest reduction in nitrogen oxides emissions has been achieved in traffic and transport as a result of the Euronorms for road traffic. In addition, energy conservation in the corporate sector, the acidification covenant with the energy sector and measures in industry have led to a fall in nitrogen oxides emissions. In 2003, nitrogen oxides emissions are expected to continue to fall under the influence of the Euronorms for road traffic and the economic downturn in many sectors.
The decrease in sulphur dioxide emissions is mainly the result of BEES requirements (Emission Requirements for Combustion Installations Decree) for the energy sector, refineries and industry and the acidification covenant with the energy sector. The measures taken to achieve the reduction were:
- exhaust gas cleaning in refineries, industry and the energy sector;
- switching from oil to gas in refineries and the chemicals sector;
- using coal with a lower sulphur content in coal-fired power stations.
Alongside the reduction in the sectors above, the sulphur dioxide emissions from traffic and transport fell due to the reduction of the sulphur level in fuels.
Policy relating to acidifying substances
The European NEC directive sets national emission ceilings for these substances that must be achieved from 2010 onwards (EU, 2001). The ceilings adopted for the Netherlands are 128, 260 and 50 million kg for ammonia, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide respectively. This does not include emissions from ocean-going shipping. These aims are an intermediate step on the road to sustainable emission levels.
Extra emission reductions are required to keep below the 2010 ceilings.
