The European Environment Agency (EEA) published its annual emission inventory report on 1 July 2026, showing that EU emissions of key air pollutants have fallen by 73% since 1990, but warns that further reductions are needed to meet 2030 targets under the EU's National Emission reduction Commitments (NEC) Directive.
The report, compiled by the EEA with EU Member States and the European Commission, covers emissions from 1990 to 2024 under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. It documents progress across five main pollutants: nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). While most pollutants show significant declines, ammonia emissions have only decreased by 28% since 1990 and remain a concern for agricultural sources. The report notes that several Member States are not on track to meet their 2020-2029 emission reduction commitments for NH3 and NOx, and that additional measures will be needed to achieve the more stringent 2030 targets.
The inventory serves as the EU's official submission to the UNECE Air Convention, fulfilling reporting obligations under the Gothenburg Protocol. The data will inform the European Commission's review of the NEC Directive, expected in 2027. Stakeholder impacts are mixed: EU citizens benefit from improved air quality and reduced health impacts, but farmers face pressure to adopt ammonia-reducing techniques, which may increase costs. National authorities must implement additional policies to close compliance gaps, while the EEA continues to coordinate monitoring and reporting. The report does not propose new legislation but provides the scientific basis for future regulatory decisions.