Road vehicles in the Netherlands by environmental class, 1986-2002*

Road vehicles are getting cleaner and cleaner as a result of more stringent type-approval requirements imposed by the European Union that have been included in Dutch legislation.

Policy

In order to reduce air pollution from road transport, the EC set emission standards in the early 1970s for the sale of new motor vehicles. These type-approval requirements were then introduced into national legislation and have been continually tightened up over the years. The most recent standards are known as EURO standards and are about to be tightened up for the third time. The EURO 3 standards apply to existing vehicle models from 1 October 2000 and to new vehicle models from 1 October 2001. Further refinements are planned over the next eight years: one wave in 2005 for passenger and heavy goods vehicles and a second in 2008 for heavy goods vehicles.

Explanatory note to the graph

The graphs showing private cars which do not yet meet the EURO standards make a distinction between cars with and without catalytic converters. The category with catalytic converter can reasonably be compared with EURO 1.

Technical note

For descriptions of the calculation method, the reader is referred to the meta-information of the Emissiemonitor.

References

• Wee, G.P. van, M.A.J. Kuijpers-Linde and O.J. van Gerwen (2001). Emissies en kosten tot 2030 bij het vastgesteld milieubeleid. Achtergronddocument bij de Nationale Milieuverkenning 5. RIVM (report no. 408 129 013), Bilthoven.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Guide to 'Volume developments in the Traffic and transport target sector' section
• Guide to environmental pressure from the Traffic and transport target sector
• Emissions to air by Traffic and transport in the Netherlands, 1990-2002*
• Emissions from road traffic in the Netherlands, 2002*
• Emissions per vehicle kilometre for road traffic in the Netherlands, 1980-2002*
• CO2 emissions per vehicle kilometre for passenger cars, 1995-2001
• Environmental costs in the Netherlands by target sector and theme, 1985 - 2002
• Dutch environmental costs by target sector, 1985-2002

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

• Recent emission data and descriptions of the calculation methods used (meta-information) can be viewed in detail on the Data Warehouse of the 'Emissieregistratie' website.