Emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) AP-2

Air Pollution Pressure

1 Indicator definition and unit of measurement

The total annual amount of non-methane volatile organic compounds emissions must be derived for all economic activities, and particularly energy-related activities, industrial processes and non-industrial use of organic solvents. The unit of measurement is Kt of NMVOCs per year.

2 Placement in the framework

5EAP:

Chapter 5: The themes and targets of the programme, section 5.2: Acidification and air quality.

Agenda 21:

Chapter 9: Protection of the atmosphere.

International conventions and agreements:

UNECE LRTAP and protocol on the reduction of VOC emissions (Geneva, 1979). Draft directive on reduction of VOC emissions (COM (96) 538 - 96/0276 SYN, OJ C 99 of 26. March 1997).

Ranking:

Core ranking: 2 (72%)

Policy Relevance: 3 (3.3)

Analytical Soundness: 3 (3.2)

Responsiveness: 3 (2.8)

Most appropriate related state indicator:

Atmospheric concentration levels of photochemical oxidants.

3 Significance

Purpose:

Non-methane volatile organic compounds emissions from anthropogenic activities are primarily comprised by total emissions from the use of fuels for energy purposes, evaporative emissions during industrial processes and non-industrial use of organic solvents. The purpose of this indicator is to identify the activities mostly responsible for the release of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere.

Relevance:

Non-methane volatile organic compounds (including compounds such as propane, butane and ethane) participate along with nitrogen oxides in the formation of photo-oxidants in the atmosphere.

Linkages to other pressure indicators:

NMVOCs are also referred to as ozone precursor gases and as such play an important role in both the Climate Change (see CC-9) and Ozone Depletion processes, since they affect the rate of creation/destruction of ozone. The present definition of the indicator, however, refers to inter-boundary air pollution problems related to regional concentration levels of photo-oxidants and the occurrence of photochemical smog episodes.

Targets:

According to the 1979 Geneva Protocol on the reduction of NMVOC emissions, national emissions should be reduced by at least 30% during the time period 1988-1999. EU targets include a 10% reduction of man-made emissions from 1990 level by 1996 and a 30% reduction by 1999.

4 Methodological description and underlying definitions

Underlying definitions and concepts:

The annual NMVOC emissions are directly related to the amount of biomass and fossil fuels used for energy production, the amount of solid and liquid fossil fuels that is produced, transported, distributed and stored, and the quantity of organic solvents used for non-industrial purposes.

Measurement methods:

This indicator must be the result of surveys on the amounts of fuel consumed for energy production, as well as on the techniques used for storage, transportation and distribution of fossil fuels. Furthermore, statistical data on the amount of solvent contained in a series of products (e.g. paint, dry-cleaning agents etc.) must also be collected. Besides the abovementioned emissions, there are also natural contributions (e.g. emissions of NMVOCs from low and high isoprene forest tree types), the level of which could, in some cases, exceed that of the total anthropogenic sources. Naturally occurring NMVOC emissions should not be taken into account. It must be noted that detailed methodologies (such as the CORINAIR programme) already exist for the estimation of NMVOC emissions from all anthropogenic activities.

Limitations of the indicator:

Although energy statistics are readily available from a number of sources (e.g. EUROSTAT, IEA), analytical statistical data on the use of solvents are not always readily available. For these cases, a simple methodology based on a general “ solvent balance ” (i.e. production + imports - exports + stock change) and default emission factors can be used to obtain “potential” total VOC emissions from the usage of solvents and other related products.

Alternative definitions:

Emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds per capita (kg NMVOC/inhabitant); emissions of volatile organic compounds per unit of area (t NMVOC/km ²).