Clean AirThe revision of the National Emission Ceilings Directive and agriculture

FERTILIZERS FORUM23 June 2015

Clean AirThe revision of the National Emission Ceilings Directive and agriculture

FERTILIZERS FORUM23 June 2015

Air policy works: lower emissions

But significant problems remain

PM10 NO2

eutrophicationO3

Health and ecosystem impacts

• over 400.000 premature deaths• 569 Million restricted activity days• 63% of ecosystem area in the EU and 73% Natura2000 area exceeding

eutrophication limits• 9% forest and 25% lake area exceeding acidification limits

63%

European Air Quality Values WHO Guidelines

Sources: EEA, Air Quality in Europe (2014) and SOER (2015)

Benefits & costs of the new NEC

benefits new NEC in 2030

• 52% better health

• 35% less eutrophication

• 85% less acidification

• Direct cost savings: €3 bn/year

• External cost reductions (health only): €44 -140 bn/year

costs new NEC in 2030

• The effort for the new policy (in cost terms) is split:

40% for the domestic sector

37% for industry

23% for agriculture

• Compliance costs: €2,2 bn/year

• External costs in the EU now: €330-940 billionFactor

> 20

Contributions to the NEC proposal

Source: IIASA, TSAP Report #16 (2015)

2020 2030

SO2 59% 81%

NOx 42% 69%

VOC 28% 50%

NH3 6% 27%

PM2.5 22% 51%

CH4 - 33%

MAIN FOCUS ON PM2.5 and NH3

Why focus on ammonia

• NH3 is detrimental to ecosystems due to eutrophication and acidification

• NH3 harms human health by forming secondary particulate matter (PM):

• Main precursor gases are NH3, NOx and SO2.• NH3 forms two main secondary PM, ammonium sulphate ((NH4)2SO4) and ammonium nitrate

(NH4NO3).• The secondary PM introduces a strong international transboundary effect

• NH3 contributes to emissions of Greenhouse Gases (N2O) and nitrates (nitrate leaching in soils, NO3)

• Loss of nutrients

Sources: Le Figaro & Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France)

The origin of PM2.5 in urban areas-5

5

15

25

μg/m

3PM

2.5

Households

Primary PM: Traffic

Sec. PM: Traffic + agri.

Sec. PM: Industry + agri

Primary PM: Industry

Natural

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

μg/m

3PM

2.5

Origin

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

μg/m

3PM

2.5

Origin

WHO guideline value

2009 NEC Proposal

Source: IIASA, TSAP Report #12 (2014)

Sources of ammonia - agriculture

Manur

e m

anag

emen

t - D

airy

cattl

e

Manur

e m

anag

emen

t - N

on-d

airy

cat

tle

Manur

e m

anag

emen

t - S

wine

Manur

e m

anag

emen

t - O

ther

pou

ltry

Manur

e m

anag

emen

t - O

ther

ani

mal

s

Inor

gani

c N-fe

rtiliz

ers (in

clud

es a

lso

urea

app

licat

ion)

Anim

al m

anur

e ap

plie

d to

soi

ls

Urine

and

dung

dep

osite

d by

gra

zing

ani

mal

s

Other

agr

icul

tura

l sou

rces

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

NH

3 e

mis

sio

n 2

013

EU

-28 in

kto

n

Source: EEA: www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/data-viewers/emissions-nec-directive-viewer

Possible measures for ammonia

• Possible measures are listed in Annex III of the proposal ie:

a) nitrogen management, taking into account the full nitrogen cycle;

b) livestock feeding strategies;

c) low-emission manure spreading approaches;

d) low-emission manure storage systems;

e) low-emission manure processing and composting systems;

f) low-emission animal housing systems;

g) low-emission approaches for mineral fertilizer application.

• Options are based on based on the 2001 UNECE Framework Code for Good Agricultural Practice for Reducing Ammonia Emissions.

Measures regarding fertilizers

• nitrogen management:• use fertilizer of manure-nitrogen with the proper concentration of nutrients;• avoid excess applications of both fertiliser and manure-nitrogen;• apply at times when nitrate leaching will be minimized and crops are

actively growing.

• the use of the right mineral fertilizers:• use of ammonium carbonate should be prohibited• use of urea based fertilizer should be minimized and replaced as much as

possible by ammonium nitrate fertilizers.

Ammonia reduction 2030 in NEC

Source: IIASA, TSAP Report #16 (2015)

Aspects agricultural sector

• The proposal is not forcing to change to intensive farming

• The proposal is not targeting on the smallest farms; 70% of animals are kept in only the largest 10% of farms

• Member States can provide support by earmarking resources under the Rural Development Funds

• Achieving the proposed reductions is possible and cost-effective and measures are already widely applied in some Member States

• Reductions in the past are fully taken into consideration

Why methane in the NEC?

• Methane is an ozone precursor, having detrimental health effects and negative effects on vegetation (including crops)

• Methane remains in the atmosphere for more than a decade, making it a global problem

• Although methane is part of the Green House Gasses under the Effort Sharing Decision, it is not guaranteed that this will lead to reduction of methane

• Measures necessary to meet the proposed targets are all negative cost or cost free in the agricultural, waste and energy sector

• The proposed reduction targets are in line with the EU Energy and Climate Policy

• More Informationhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/review_air_policy.htm

• Feedback• ENV-AIR@ec.europa.eu

• Thank you!

• Roald Wolters• European Commission

• DG ENV.C.3 - Air