EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Ireland’s Environment – An Integrated Assessment 2020 Non-methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOC) Overview: NMVOC emissions are linked to paint and solvent use, the production of food and beverages (spirits), transport and agriculture. NMVOCs can have a number of direct damaging impacts on human health and can also have indirect effects on health by contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone, which causes respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Progress against the emission ceiling target Figure 3.4 shows NMVOC emissions by sector for recent years and projected amounts for 2020 and 2030. Ireland’s emission ceiling for NMVOC is 55 kilotonnes and this was exceeded in 2010. Ireland was compliant in all subsequent years up to and including 2018 after applying flexibilities, as allowed under the NEC Directive. Current projections estimate that Ireland’s emissions may meet the reduction commitment for 2020. Emissions are projected to exceed the 2030 reduction commitment and further measures may be required to ensure compliance in 2030. Key steps towards achieving the target Future trends in NMVOC emissions depend largely on the results from the implementation of EU directives on solvent and product uses and the levels of spirit production, solid fuel combustion in the residential sector, and cattle numbers in the agriculture sector in Ireland. Emissions of NMVOCs from manure management and agricultural soils are not within the scope of the NEC Directive for the purposes of complying with the reduction commitments applicable from 2020 onwards. Ammonia (NH 3 ) Overview: The agriculture sector accounts for nearly all (99%) ammonia emissions in Ireland. Uniquely for the pollutants under the NEC Directive , ammonia emissions are increasing year on year. Ammonia emissions can lead to the formation of secondary particulate matter, acidification and eutrophication. Figure 3.4  Total NMVOC emissions with and without the use of flexibilities, and projected emission figures (Source: EPA) Projections 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 Power Stations Industrial Residential & Commercial Fugitive and Solvents Food and beverages industry Other Total with use of flexibilities Transport Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing Fuel Agriculture NEC 2010-2019 Ceiling 2020-2029 Reduction Commitment 2030 Reduction Commitment Kilotonnes NMVOC 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2020 2025 2030 Fig 3.4 presents a scenario where the NMVOC emissions from spirit production (Food and beverages industry), manure management and agricultural soils (Agriculture) are excluded, as these sources were not included in the national inventory at the time the 2020 and 2030 reduction ceilings were established 68