Download Pdf Print
geen 

Air pollutant emissions from transport

Pressure (milieudruk), legende opent in pop-up, legende opent in pop-up
Also the transport sector emits CO2, NOx, NMVOC, PM2.5 and SO2. CO2 contributes to climate change. SO2 and NOx are acidifying components. NOx and NMVOC are ozone precursors and lead to the formation of harmful ozone gas. Particles smaller than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) are harmful to health. The emissions from transport include emissions from road traffic, rail (only diesel for exhaust emissions), inland navigation, inland maritime shipping and aviation. For aviation, this is only the emission during take-off and landing. But for CO2 it is different. The CO2 emissions contain only the emissions of domestic flights, as required by the Kyoto Protocol. Inland maritime shipping includes all traffic of ships traveling between Flemish ports. The definition implies, however, that also sand mining, dredging and the activity of tugboats belong to this category.

The method for calculating the emissions of road traffic uses the number of kilometres driven by different types of vehicles. From 2010, that calculation was done with a modified and more accurate method. A higher share of freight transport was obtained. The result is that the figures for 2010 can not be fully compared with the figures of previous years.

Figures

Air pollutant emissions from transport (Flanders, 2000-2010)

Air pollutant emissions from transport (Flanders, 2000-2010)

Source: VMM

Data in Excel.

Progress

Indicative target for 2010 reached for NMVOCs, but not for NOx and SO2

The CO2 emissions from transport have slightly fluctuated in recent years. Road traffic remained the most important source. The emissions from rail decreased by 6 % with respect to 2009 due to more efficient loading and decreased use of diesel trains. An increase in activity led to increased shipping emissions in 2010.

Since 2000 the NOx emissions from transport have decreased. Due to the higher estimate of freight road traffic, the NOx emissions from the transport sector were actually higher in 2010 than in 2009, just as the CO2 emissions. Due to the tightening of the environmental standards for vehicles, the NMVOC emissions from transport also decreased considerably in the last ten years. The emissions of particulate matter decreased by roughly half. The proportion of non-exhaust emissions, caused by wear, increased from 17 % in 2000 to 35 % in 2010. A policy is also required for the reduction of this fraction. Successive EU directives limited the sulphur content of fuels and consequently the SO2 emissions. Due to the increased activity of shipping in particular, the SO2 emissions from transport increased by 8 % in 2010. 88 % of the SO2 emissions originated from shipping.

In 2010 the transport sector reached the Flemish indicative target of the MINA plan 3+ (2008-2010) for NMVOCs, but not for NOx and SO2. The exceedance for NOx in particular is large. An important reason for this is a change in the method of calculation, but the NOx emissions also decreased more slowly than expected due to the dieselisation of the vehicle fleet and the increasing freight transport. The most important actions that Flanders will take to reduce the emissions are the greening of vehicle taxes and the logistics sector. This should lead to a further reduction in the NOx emissions of 35 % by 2015, a MINA plan 4 (2011-2015) target. For NMVOCs a further decrease by 54 % is required by 2015. For the first time a target has also been specified for PM2.5 emissions. A reduction by 47 % is needed by 2015.

Last modified

May 2012

Contact at MIRA

Caroline  De Geest

Dictionary

dieselation
increase of the share of diesel cars in the fleet of cars
Euro x
term that appeared at the start of the 1990s to indicate which environment-related vehicle generation it concerns. A euro 4 vehicle is more recent than a Euro 1 and complies with stricter European emissions limits. Standards for freight traffic are identified by Roman numerals.
NMVOC
non-methane volatile organic compounds
Ozone precursor
precursor substance, substance from which ozone is created by the action of sunlight. Nitrogen oxides and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) are the most important ozone precursors.