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Energy, Climate change, Environment
Environment

Reducing emissions of air pollutants

The NEC Directive sets national reduction commitments for five main air pollutantsand requiresMember States to monitor and report their emissions.

Overview

The National Emission Reduction Commitments (NEC) (Directive (EU) 2016/2284) is a cornerstone of EU law, which aims to improve air quality by setting limits on harmful pollutants.

It sets national reduction commitments for five main air pollutants, which have a significant negative impact on human health and the environment:

  • Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
  • Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
  • Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC)
  • Ammonia (NH3)
  • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5)
A semi-aerial shot of fumes coming out of a factory down on the ground
© Zoonar RF | Getty Images

Objectives

The NEC Directive aims to:

  • Move towards achieving levels of air quality that do not cause significant negative impacts on human health and the environment
  • Support biodiversity and ecosystem protection
  • Enhance synergies with other EU objectives, such as climate and energy

Law

Member States are required to monitor and report the emissions of the five key pollutants (“emission inventories”). They must also report on several other pollutants listed in Annex I of the Directive, such as black carbon.

Member States also have to draw up, adopt and implement national air pollution control programmes. These should show how they intend to meet their emission-reduction commitments for 2020-29 and how they will achieve the more ambitious commitments by 2030 and beyond.

The reduction commitments for 2020-29 are the same as those made by Member States under the amended Gothenburg Protocol to the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP).

 The Commission publishes implementation reports every four years:

NEC Directive evaluation

Article 13 of the Directive calls on the Commission to review the Directive no later than 31 December 2025. The Commission will evaluate the Directive following the Better Regulation guidelines and toolbox.

Relevant information on the review is published here.

Implementation

Emissions inventories

Member States must report national emission inventories each year, accompanied by a report.

Related links

Contact

For questions about EU environmental policy, please contact Europe Direct.