Chemical plant changes drive down EU emissions

Brussels - A reduction in emissions of nitrous oxides (12 million tonnes CO2-equivalents) from chemical plants has been a key factor behind a net reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the European Union, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has reported in its Annual European Community Greenhouse gas inventory 1990–2006 and inventory report 2008.

The emissions inventory compiled by the EEA for 2006 - the latest year for which complete data is available - shows that EU-15 emissions dropped by 0.8% from 2005, taking emissions to 2.7% below their levels in the base year (1990 in most cases). This puts the EU-15 on track to meeting its Kyoto Protocol target of keeping average emissions between 2008 and 2012 at least 8% below base year levels.

The drop in EU-15 emissions - totaling 34.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent - between 2005 and 2006 was mainly due to warmer weather, lower production of nitric acid, which causes emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, and the introduction of new techniques for reducing nitrous oxide emissions from adipic acid production.

Meanwhile, EU-27 emissions fell 0.3% in the year to stand 10.8% below levels in the base year, which for some Member States differs from 1990, and 7.7% below levels in 1990 itself. The drop, totaling 14 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, can be attributed to the reduction in nitric acid production, decreases in emissions from chemicals production in France and Hungary and lower overall use of gas and liquid fuels by households.

The main contributor to the decrease was lower consumption of gas and oil in households and services, which accounted for emission cuts of 16.6 million tonnes, particularly in Belgium, France, Italy, Spain and the UK. This was a result of reduced heating needs in Europe due to a warmer year in 2006, together with higher gas prices. Domestic electricity demand remained largely stable, the EEA stated.

Heavier use of coal for power and heat production resulted in an increase of 15.4 million tonnes CO2 from this sector in 2006. Poland alone accounted for an increment of 7.6 million tonnes of emissions from this sector. Denmark and Finland experienced the biggest relative increase in GHG emissions (with 10.9 and 16.3 % respectively), due to heavier use of solid fossil fuels for power generation.

Emissions from road transport continued to grow, releasing 6.5 million tonnes of CO2 or 0.7 % more than in 2005 - due mainly to increased use of diesel for freight and passenger transport. GHG emissions from international aviation and shipping activities continued to rise sharply in 2006 with increases of nearly 5 million tonnes (aviation) and 10 million tonnes (international shipping).

European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said:”The recent emission decreases among the EU-15 are encouraging. Nevertheless, prompt and full implementation of the policies and measures adopted or planned remains crucial. Member States need to keep accelerating their efforts to limit or reduce emissions."

*The EEA has developed a new greenhouse gas (GHG) data viewer which simplifies access and analysis of the data contained in the greenhouse gas inventory report. The GHG data viewer can show emission trends for the main sectors and allows for comparisons of emissions between different countries and activities. In addition, the web viewer can produce graphics and key emission estimates.