Air Quality Control 2010 National Programme of the Federal Republic of Germany pursuant to Article 6 of Directive 2001/81/EC of 23 October 2001 on nationalemission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants (NEC Directive) | Umweltbundesamt

The Federal Government has presented a programme setting out specific measures to further reduce emissions of major air pollutants. This programme aims to meet the national emission ceilings (NECs) laid down in Directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and the of Council on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants, which entered into force on 27 November 2001. The NEC Directive limits Germany’s total national emission loads to 520 kt for sulphur dioxide (SO2), 1051 kt for nitrogen oxide (NOx), 550 kt for ammonia (NH3) and 995 kt for non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). This means emission reductions of about three quarters of the levels in 1990 and, compared to current levels, a reduction of about 30% for nitrogen dioxides and NMVOCs, about 20% for sulphur dioxide and about 10% for ammonia.