MK – NI 002

This indicator tracks trends in emissions of ozone precursors: nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, methane and non-methane volatile organic compounds, caused by anthropogenic activities, and each precursor is weighted by its tropospheric ozone-forming potential.

The indicator also provides information on emissions by sectors: energy industries; road and other transport modes; industry (processes and energy); other (energy); fugitive emissions; waste; agriculture and other (non-energy).

• kt (NMVOC – equivalent)

What progress has been made in overall ozone precursors emissions reduction in Europe?

• Emissions of ozone precursors in 2016 compared to 1990, have been reduced for nitrogen oxides (NO_X) by51%, they have decreased for non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) by 43%, for carbon monoxide (CO) by44%, and an increase was recorded for methane (CH₄), compared to 2014 (for which it has the latest available data) by67%.

• With regards to nitrogen oxides, the decline in emissions since 2012 is a result of the reduced consumption of coal and fuel oil at thermal power plants for electricity production. In the last several years, the reduction of emissions is also a consequence of the reduced operation of REK Oslomej (namely, this installation starting from 2014 works only for one month in one calendar year). During 2016, the emissions of this pollutant were reduced as a result of the reduced consumption of coal in installations for electricity production, and because of the application of a national emission factor instead of the emission factor that was applied in the last few years.

• With regards to volatile organic pollutants, in 2016 for comparison, the emissions of these pollutants are reduced to around 43%. The reasons for the decrease lie mainly in lower emissions from transport and the use of solvents. At the same time, the change in methodology from Level 1 to Level 2 for the last three years has led to a reduction in the emissions of this pollutant. From 2015 to 2016, emissions were reduced by 16%, due to the reduced use of solvents, and also due to slightly lower emissions from the household sector.

• In 2016, CO emissions are reduced by 15% compared to 2015 and amounted to 74 kt. The reduction of CO emissions in 2016 is also noticeable, compared to 2015, as well as a continuous decline in emissions starting from 2012, especially in the sector od household heatingand administrative buildings, due to reduced consumption of wood at the expense of increasing consumption of natural gas and pellets.

• CH₄ was the only pollutant among ozone precursors where increase in emission was recorded in the followup years as a result of increased emissions from the waste sector resulting from increased population and slow implementation of the waste strategy.

The Diagram below shows annual trend of carbon monoxide, methane, non-methane organic compounds and nitrogen oxides emissions presented as ozone precursors.

Diagram 1. Total ozone precursors emissions

The Diagram indicates that decrease in overall ozone precursors can be noted as of 2011, with the trend being almost unvariable in the preceding period.

Under the CARDS Programme, Inventory of air emissions of the main pollutants in the country was established in 2005 in accordance with the EMEP methodology by individual sectors, i.e. activities, and in 2014 an Inventory including all pollutants was prepared.Starting from 2014, the Republic of Macedonia carries out calculations of national emissions for all pollutants.

The emission sources, within this national indicator, are made according to the following categorization:

Data used in the calculation of ozone precursors was taken from the Inventory of air pollutant emissions by sectors or activities prepared in 2016 when recalculation of emissions for the whole period of 1990-2014 was made.

Inventory of methane as one of ozone precursors is made by IPPC methodology. In the frames of the Third National Communication on Climate Change, the GHG Inventory was made for the period 1990-2014 and data on methane emissions by sectors ws taken from there.

Completed inventory of ozone precursors indicates dropping trend during the analyzed period.

Changes in the quantities of NOx and CO emissions in transport sector resulted from the change in consumed quantities of diesel fuels and petrols by passenger cars. In this sector, vehicle fleet keeps renewing from year to year, though the number of used cars increases thus resulting in absence of significant emissions reduction from the traffic. At the same time, it should be emphasized that the methodology for calculation of emissions at level 2 has been applied in the last three years, which also leads to reduction of the emissions of all pollutants. It is necessary to use a higher level of calculation for the whole period, which would make a more realistic assessment of the trend of emissions from the traffic sector.As far as reduction in NOx emissions from the energy sector is concerned, the implementation of IPPC Directive and introduction of the best available techniques in heat production installations, as well as modernization of electricity production plants in 2013, reduction in emissions of this pollutant from energy sector was recorded upon 2013. Also, the reduced consumption of coal and heavy oil and the reduced production of electric energy with existing energy production capacities leads to a reduction in the emissions of pollutants emanating from this sector.The amount of CO emissions from non-combustion facilities like households, depends mainly from the use of wood for heating. These emissions have been decreasing in recent years due to the reduced consumption of wood and increased consumption of pellets and natural gas. In the future, it is expected that there would be further reduction of emissions from this sector due to the expansion of the national gasification network. It is expected that CO emissions would be reduced in future through the introduction of a nation-wide gasification system.

Directive 1999/13/EC regarding NMVOC emissions from solvents use in installations and certain activities has been partially transposed (only for limit values) in the national legislation, and reduction schemes for these pollutants have not been introduced. Full transposition of this Directive is planned by the end of this year. On the other side, transposition of Directives 1994/63/ЕCand 2009/126/EC concerning emissions from petrol filling and distribution to petrol stations is in final stage and implementation of the Law on Control of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions at petrol use has commenced. Namely, registration of installations for storage, installations for filling and emptying of mobile containers and petrol stations in accordance with the adopted rulebook is underway.

Yet, reduction in NMVOC emissions from the implementation of the adopted and planned legislation is expected to be achieved in the coming years.

With regard to greenhouse gas methane, overall emissions have increased due to emission increase in waste sector owing to the trend of growth in the quantity of solid waste. Emission of methane from the agriculture sector has showed a declining trend. Reduction in the emission of this pollutant is expected upon the implementation of the waste legislation.

Which different sectors and processes contribute to ozone precursors emissions?

Diagram 2. Total NOx emissions by sectors/year

Diagram 3. Total CO emissions by sectors/year

Diagram 4. Total NMVОC emissions by sectors/year

Diagram 5. Total CH4 emissions by sectors/year

 Data coverage: excel

Source of data: The data on NMVOC, CO and NOx as overall national emissions and emissions categorized by NFR was taken from the following web site: http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/mk/un/clrtap/inventories/envwovm7g/ , posted in February 2018. Data on CH₄ emissions was taken from the Inventory of GHG accessible at the following web site: http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/mk/un/unfccc/envwo3zfg/.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

The main sources of emissions of this polluting substance in 2016 were the following sectors of sources: Road transport with a share of 31% (22% in 1990) and Energy production and distribution with a share of 41% (55% in 1990) in the overall national NOx emissions.

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Almost all emissions of CO originate from Commercial, institutional and householdssector with a share of 67%, road transport with share of 17%, and less from the sector Industry (Combustion) with a share of 9%. The reason for the reduction in the emissions in the period 1990 to 2016 is related to the reduced emissions from the Road transport sector. From 2015 to 2016, emissions havedeclined by 14%, mainly due to lower consumption of fuel wood.

Nonmethane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs)

The main sources of NMVOCs emissions in 2016 were the sectors Commercial, institutional and households, Industry (production) and Road transport.Reduction of emissions of these pollutants (NMVOCs) is recorded in all sectors, with exception of the waste sector, from which the emissions are increasing.

Methane (CH₄)

With regard to methane emissions, categorization was made in several sectors: waste, industry, agriculture, energy and other. Throughout the reporting period, emissions from the sector waste were the highest and increasing for the last several years. The sector Agriculture, forestry and land use is the second key sector with significant share in methane emission, followed by energy sector.

• Methodology for the indicator calculation

The methodology for this indicator calculation is based on aggregation and calculation of data on CO, NMVOC, CH₄ and NO_x emissions at annual basis, on national level, as overall and distributed to sectors, i.e. activities.

Calculations are in line with EMEP/EEA Guidelines and methodology for inventory and application of the SNAP – selective nomenclature of air pollution.

With regard to this specific indicator, factors have been used in order to express the property of ozone precursors. These factors are specific to each pollutant, namely for NO_x it is 1.22, for NMVOC it is 1, for CO it is 0.11 and for CH₄ this value is 0.014. The results are expressed in kilotons NMVOC equivalent.

• Reference of used methodology

Methodology applied in the calculation and presentation of this indicator has been taken from the EMEP/EEA Guideline on air pollutant emission inventory 2013, Technical Report no. 12/2013, EEA. and deLeeuw, F. (2002). Set of emission indicators of long-range transboundary air pollution, Environmental science and policy.