Latest study indicates that achieving the Gothenburg Protocol and the EU NEC Directive 2010 emission targets will not decrease nitrogen deposition to the Baltic

Helsinki, 27 April (HELCOM) – Achieving 2010 nitrogen emission targets set by the Gothenburg Protocol to the UN/ECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) and the EU Directive on National Emission Ceilings for Certain Atmospheric Pollutants (NEC) may not be enough to decrease airborne nitrogen deposition to the Baltic Sea, according to the recently released HELCOM study.

The Gothenburg Protocol and EU NEC Directive are currently the two most important instruments in Europe to limit emissions.

One of the deposition scenarios, modelled for HELCOM by EMEP (the Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe), clearly indicates that atmospheric nitrogen deposition to the Baltic Sea which is one of the main contributors to high nutrient concentration stimulating massive algae blooms will be higher in 2010 than in 2003 even if the emission targets in the Protocol and the Directive are achieved. The total nitrogen deposition will amount to 223.1 kilotonnes in 2010 compared to 217.4 kilotonnes in 2003. 

The total estimated nitrogen emission levels in 2010 according to this scenario will increase by approximately 4% compared to 2003 from the Baltic Sea countries. The ship emissions are expected to increase by 20%, although the importance of the ship emissions on the development of the deposition will not be as significant compared to the foreseen development in some of the coastal countries.

Approximately one quarter of the total nitrogen input into the Baltic Sea comes from airborne nitrogen deposited directly into the sea. In addition to direct deposition, some of the nitrogen deposited into the Baltic Sea catchment area reaches the sea via runoff from land. Furthermore, distant sources outside the Baltic Sea catchment area account for almost 40% of the total airborne deposition of nitrogen and this should be considered when evaluating possible further developments and the adequacy of measures taken to reduce airborne nitrogen pollution.

Nitrogen compounds are emitted into the atmosphere as nitrogen oxides and ammonia. Shipping, road transportation, and energy combustion are the main sources of nitrogen oxide emissions in the Baltic Sea region. In the case of ammonia, roughly 90% of the emissions originate from agriculture. Agriculture is the most significant contributor of total airborne nitrogen, accounting for more than 40% of total air emissions of nitrogen from the HELCOM Member States.

Although reductions of nitrogen oxides were achieved by 2003, the emission ceilings of the Gothenburg Protocol to the UN/ECE CLRTAP and the EU NEC Directive for 2010 may be difficult to achieve for some of the HELCOM Member States.

The results of this study are intended to be used as input to the updating of the programmes under the EU NEC Directive in the Member States in 2006 and proposals for the possible modification of the EU NEC Directive in 2008, as well as in the revision of the Gothenburg Protocol.

To read the Executive Summary of the report, please click here, to read the full report click here. 

For more information, please contact:

Kaj Forsius
Professional Secretary
Tel: +358 (0)207 412 633
Fax: +358 (0)207 412 639

E-mail: kaj.forsius@helcom.fi

Nikolay Vlasov
Information Secretary
Tel: +358 (0)207 412 635
Fax: +358 (0)207 412 639                                                     

E-mail: nikolay.vlasov@helcom.fi