The impact of European legislative and technology measures to reduce air pollutants on air quality, human health and climate

The impact of European legislative and technology measures to reduce air pollutants on air quality, human health and climate [1]

European air quality legislation has reduced emissions of air pollutants across Europe since the 1970s, affecting air quality, human health and regional climate. We used a coupled composition-climate model to simulate the impacts of European air quality legislation and technology measures implemented between 1970 and 2010. We contrast simulations using two emission scenarios; one with actual emissions in 2010 and the other with emissions that would have occurred in 2010 in the absence of technological improvements and end-of-pipe treatment measures in the energy, industrial and road transport sectors. European emissions of sulphur dioxide, black carbon (BC) and organic carbon in 2010 are 53%, 59% and 32% lower respectively compared to emissions that would have occurred in 2010 in the absence of legislative and technology measures. These emission reductions decreased simulated European annual mean concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 35%, sulphate by 44%, BC by 56% and particulate organic matter by 23%.

Original Source [2]

Publication Date:

12/02/2016

Author(s): S T Turnock [3], E W Butt [4], T B Richardson & et al [5]

Source: Environmental Research Letters [6]

Vol:

Issue:

pp:

1-10

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