Air pollution - Drivers & Pressures

What are the related drivers and pressures?

A major driver for the emission of air pollutants, especially for NOx, PM10 and NMVOC is traffic, and to some extent also energy production (see also Figure 12). Since the late 1990s, passenger transport vehicle kilometres of private cars and aviation have shown a strong increase (Figure 10). Freight transport has shown an even more pronounced increase (Figure 11). Since 1990, freight transport (in tonnes kilometres) has tripled. The increase in passenger and freight transport has partly compensated the effect of emission reduction measures.

Figure 10: Development of passenger transport from 1990 to 2007 in Austria (source: Umweltbundesamt, compiled)
Figure 11: Development of freight transport from 1990 to 2007 in Austria (source: Umweltbundesamt, compiled)

Energy consumption increased considerably between 1990 and 2007 in line with the increase in GDP. The decrease from 2006 to 2007 was caused by relatively high temperatures in 2007 (leading to a reduced demand for heat production during winter).

Figure 12: Relative changes of gross domestic energy consumption, gross domestic energy consumption of fossil energy sources and gross domestic product in Austria (source: Umweltbundesamt 2009)

Trend in emissions 1990–2007

 

NOx emissions were reduced from about 179 kt in 1990 to 163 kt in 2007 (Figure 13). However, emissions are still well above the emission ceiling according to Directive 2001/81/EC of 103 kt.

Figure 13: NOx emissions in Austria 1990 to 2007 (based on fuel consumed calculations) (Umweltbundesamt 2009a. Industry comprises CRF source categories 1A2 and CRF 2)

PM10 emissions have slightly increased from about 42 kt in 1990 to 43 kt in 2007 (Figure 14).

Figure 14: PM10 emissions in Austria 1990 to 2007 (based on fuel sold, Umweltbundesamt 2009a)

SO2 emissions were reduced from about 74 kt in 1990 to 26 kt in 2007 (Figure 15). Emissions are well below the emission ceiling according to Directive 2001/81/EC of 39 kt.

Figure 15: SO2 emissions in Austria 1990 to 2007 (based on fuel consumed calculations) (Umweltbundesamt 2009a)

NMVOC emissions were reduced from about 273 kt in 1990 to 176 kt in 2007 (Figure 16). Emissions are still above the emission ceiling according to Directive 2001/81/EC of 159 kt.

Figure 16: NMVOC emissions in Austria 1990 to 2007 (other: mainly solvent and other product use. Based on fuel consumed calculations) (Umweltbundesamt 2009a)

NH3 emissions have been reduced from about 71 kt in 1990 to 66 kt in 2007 (Figure 17). Emissions are exactly at the emission ceiling according to Directive 2001/81/EC of 66 kt.

Figure 17: NH3 emissions in Austria 1990 to 2007 (based on fuel consumed calculations) (Umweltbundesamt 2009a)

Links & References

Infobox

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