ARCHIVE: National emission ceilings directive

The National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) sets ceilings for each member state for emissions of ammonia, sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These four pollutants are primarily responsible for acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone. The ceilings must be met by 2010.

The UK must report its emissions of the four NECD pollutants annually. UK emissions data for the 2007 calendar year is now available and shows progress against the 2010 ceilings:

The latest data shows a continued decline in emissions of all four NECD pollutants. The UK is now below its 2010 ceiling for VOCs and ammonia, and close to meeting its 2010 ceiling for sulphur dioxide. The remaining priority is to ensure NOx emissions are brought down below the NOx emission ceiling as soon as possible.

Revision of the National Emission Ceilings Directive

The European Commission is expected to publish a proposal to revise the National Emission Ceilings Directive in 2009.  It is likely that the proposal will include tighter emission ceilings for ammonia, sulphur dioxide, NOx and VOCs that must be met by 2020.  The proposal may also introduce a new requirement to reduce emissions of particulate matter (PM2.5).

More information on the NECD proposal will appear here following publication.  Defra will be taking forward revision of the National Emission Ceilings Directive alongside the forthcoming revision of the UNECE Gothenburg Protocol, which will look to set 2020 air quality emission ceilings for the wider UNECE region – a region that includes the United States, Canada, the European Union and Russia amongst others. 

Further information

 

Page last modified: 3 March 2009