Air pollution in Europe 1997
The European Environment Agency has published a report on "Air pollution in Europe 1997". The report, which is timed to support new EU policy initiatives in 1997/1998, assesses several environmental problems in which air pollution plays a major role. The main focus of the report is on pressures, state and impacts, but information is also provided on the main driving forces that influence the state of the environment. The report can be regarded as the basis for the production of an Annual Indicator Report. The five main problem areas addressed are: - Climate change; - Acidification; - Eutrophication (atmospheric deposition); - Urban air quality; - Tropospheric ozone. The report reveals that Europe, and in particular the European Union, is making progress in reducing some air pollution and its impact on human health and ecosystems. The main improvements have been in acidification and urban air quality, due to the reduction of sulphur emissions from point sources and the introduction of unleaded petrol for passenger cars. However, even these improvements have not been sufficient to achieve acceptable levels of sulphur and lead in the environment in many parts of Europe. For other environmental problems related to air pollution (climate change and tropospheric ozone) there has been no improvement, or only stabilization, in recent years. For all air-related environmental problems, the policies and measures to abate emissions have been largely offset by an increase in the driving forces behind the pressures, particularly in the transport sector. Further substantial reductions of all atmospheric emissions are needed to reach target levels for air quality and for exceedances of critical loads on ecosystems. The report focuses primarily on the 15 EU Member States. Information is also provided, however, from other European countries and Parties to the UN-ECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP), since this Convention plays a significant role in reducing transboundary air pollution in Europe.