The estimates calculated by the National Atmospheric Emission Inventory help to provide a picture of the important sources and trends in emissions and removals and to focus action to improve our local national and global environment.
This data is used for a number of purposes including the provision of information to track the UK's progress towards international commitments harmful air pollutants (air pollution).
As part of its international and domestic commitments the UK reports:
- Estimates of UK air pollutant emissions to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP)
- Estimates of UK air pollutant emissions to the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD).
UNECE CLTRAP & EMEP
Set up in 1947, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's (UNECE) major aim is to promote pan-European economic integration. The areas of work covered by the UNECE include environmental policy and the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) identifies the Executive Secretary of UNECE as its secretariat. Emission estimates under CLRTAP are submitted to the UNECE.
European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) is a scientifically based and policy driven programme under CLRTAP. The main objective of the EMEP programme is to regularly provide governments and subsidiary bodies under the LRTAP Convention with qualified scientific information, e.g. the EMEP/EEA Guidebook to support the development and further evaluation of the international protocols on emission reductions negotiated within the Convention. Initially, the EMEP programme focused on assessing the transboundary transport of acidification and eutrophication, including reporting of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). Later, the scope of the programme widened to address the formation of ground level ozone and, more recently, heavy metals and particulate matter from 1980 onwards and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from 1990 onwards.
The UNECE has developed an e-learning course aiming to raise awareness about air pollution and its effects, ways to prevent and reduce harmful emissions and the CLRTAP and its protocols as an international framework for cooperation on cleaner air.
Get data
View the latest CLRTAP submission
National Emissions Ceilings Regulations (NECR)
Air pollution travels over long distances, affects human health, degrades buildings and other man-made structures and adversely affects the natural environment through acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone. The European Community agreed to set emission ceilings through the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) to protect its citizens, its man-made structures and its diverse environments. The revised NECR (2016/2284/EU), which entered into force on 31 December 2016, sets emission reduction commitments for each Member State for the total emissions of NOx, SOx, NMVOC, NH3 and PM2.5 in 2020 and 2030. In 2018, NECD was transposed into UK law as the National Emissions Ceilings Regulations (NECR).
From 2020 onwards, emission ceilings have been replaced by Emission Reduction Commitments (ERCs), which are presented as a percentage reduction of emissions against a 2005 baseline for nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), particulate matter (PM2.5) and ammonia (NH3).
ERCs are static from 2020-2029, and are more demanding from 2030 onwards. The below table presents the UK’s ERCs for the relevant pollutants and years.
| Pollutant | 2020-2029 ERC (% reduction from 2005) | 2030 onwards ERC (% reduction from 2005) |
| Nitrogen Dioxides (NOx) | 55 | 73 |
| Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOCs) | 32 | 39 |
| Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) | 59 | 88 |
| Particulate Matter (PM2.5) | 30 | 46 |
| Ammonia (NH3) | 8 | 16 |
UK compliance with targets:
The UK reports on compliance with targets in the relevant sections of the Informative Inventory Report. The legislation includes a mechanism for applying adjustments to estimated emissions totals, to account for new sources and new science identified after the Emission Reduction Commitments are agreed.
2020-2029
The UK has met its Emission Reduction Commitments for 2020 for nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), particulate matter (PM2.5) and ammonia (NH3).
2030
The UK has Emission Reduction Commitments for 2030 under the NECR. The latest projections show the likely future trajectory of UK emissions.
Get data
Detailed data used for the UK NECR estimates can be downloaded from the data page