The European Union and its Member States are making progress in reducing air pollutant emissions as required National Emission Reduction Commitments Directive (NEC Directive) (EU/2016/2284This Directive sets out national commitments to reduce emissions of five main pollutants: fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), ammonia (NH3) and sulfur dioxide (SO2)The current commitments apply for the period 2020 to 2029, with stricter targets applying from 2030. The analysis is based on the latest air emissions data for 2023, reported by Member States in 2025.

Progress towards commitments for 2020-2029

In 2023, it reached 19 Member States have set their national emission reduction commitments for all five main pollutants for the period 2020-2029. On the contrary, eight Member States did not meet their commitments for at least one of the substances. The biggest challenge remains reducing ammonia (NH3) emissions, with six Member States needing to reduce their emissions to meet their commitments for 2020-2029. Since 2005, NH3 emissions have only decreased slightly or even increased in many Member States, highlighting the need for more effective policies targeting agriculture, the main source of NH3 emissions in the EU. On the contrary, the most significant progress has been made in reducing sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, with 25 Member States already meeting their commitments even for 2030. For SO2, NOx, NMVOCs and PM2.5, all but one Member State have met their commitments for 2020-2029. Specific challenges include Cyprus, which needs to significantly reduce SO2 emissions (main sources are energy supply and manufacturing), Lithuania, which needs to significantly reduce NOx emissions (main source is road transport) and NMVOCs, and Romania, which needs to further reduce PM2.5 emissions.

Challenges associated with commitments for 2030 and beyond

Meeting the stricter emission reduction targets from 2030 will be a significant challenge for almost all Member States. According to 2023 data, with the exception of Belgium, Estonia, Finland and the Netherlands, all Member States need to reduce emissions for at least one pollutant to meet their 2030 commitments. The biggest challenge will be reducing NH3, NOx and PM2.5 emissions. For example, although 12 Member States have already met the stricter 2030 NH3 commitments, more than half of them still need to reduce emissions. The same number (12) have met the PM2.5 commitments, but the burning of solid biomass and fossil fuels for domestic heating still contributes significantly to PM2.5 emissions in some countries. NOx emissions pose a challenge for 17 Member States, with road transport and energy supply being the main sectors.

Long-term trends and de-coupling

From 2005 to 2023, emissions of pollutants in EU Member States were overall downward trend. SO2 emissions decreased by 85 %, NOx by 53 % and PM2.5 by 38 %. However, NH3 emissions decreased by only 17 %, which is the lowest of all the pollutants monitored. Interestingly, although pollutant emissions have been decreasing, EU gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 32% in the 1Q3QThis phenomenon is called absolute decoupling, meaning that environmental impact (emissions) is decreasing while economic activity is increasing. This success is the result of a combination of factors such as increased regulation, a changing fuel base, technological improvements and improved energy efficiency.

The NEC Directive is a key legislative instrument within the framework European Green Deal and contributes to the goal of zero pollution, with the ambition to reduce premature deaths caused by air pollution by 55 % by 2030 (compared to 2005). The European Commission is currently reviewing the Directive to assess to what extent it has met its objective of protecting human health and the environment. Spring