Indicator: Emission of air pollutants

• The averaged index of air pollutants fell by 39.5 % between 2005 and 2023.
• The obligations of the Gothenburg Protocol and the NEC Directive for 2020 were achieved.
• The challenge to meet the reduction commitments of the European NEC Directive for 2030 differ from substance to substance.
• Nitrogen oxide emissions need to be reduced significantly to achieve the 2030 goal.
• For sulphur dioxide, ammonia and fine particulate matter (PM2,5) the 2030 targets are within reach.
• For NMVOC the reductions are already lower than the 2030 reduction target.

The indicator is based on the trend of five different pollutants (index) from different sources. Ammonia (NH₃) mainly comes from agriculture through livestock farming and fertilisation. Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) are mainly produced by combustion processes in power stations and engines. Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) mainly arise from the use of solvents in industrial processes. Fine particulate matter with a particle size of less than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5) is derived from combustion processes in households, road transport and agriculture.

Their impacts on the environment vary. Sulphur dioxide contributes to the acidification of ecosystems by causing 'acid rain’. Ammonia and nitrogen oxides lead to excessive nutrient enrichment (eutrophication). NMVOCs increase the amount of harmful ozone pollution. Among other things, PM2.5 causes respiratory diseases in humans.

The value of the index has fallen over 67 % since 1995. However, the progress made with the different pollutants vary significantly. Emissions of sulphur dioxide have declined by almost 87 % since 1995. Emissions of ammonia, have declined only by 21 % since then.

Germany has committed to reducing emissions of the five main air pollutants in accordance with the 2012 amendment to the Gothenburg Protocol of the Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air. Germany must reduce emissions by an average of 21 % by 2020 compared to 2005. This target was achieved. For the five air pollutants, further reduction obligations have also been set in the new European NEC Directive of December 2016. Accordingly, Germany must reduce emissions of the five air pollutants by an average of 45 % between 2005 and 2030. The Federal Government has included the average of the reduction targets in the  German Sustainable Development Strategy.

The challenge to achieve the NEC reduction targets differ from substance to substance. For nitrogen oxide, which are mainly emitted in the transport sector, further significant reductions are necessary to achieve the 2030 targets. For sulfur dioxide, ammonia and fine particulate matter (PM2,5) the reduction targets are within reach. For NMVOC the reduction is already higher than the reduction target for 2030.

The indicator is based on the relative trend of the emissions of five pollutants since 2005. Emissions of that year were set at 100 (indexed). The indicator is calculated from the annual average for the five pollutants. The calculation is based on data from the respective air pollutant inventories calculated by the German Environment Agency. These calculations are described in detail in the UBA’s annual ’German Informative Inventory Report’.

More detailed information: 'Emissionen prioritärer Luftschadstoffe' (in German only).