Emission limits still being exceeded by member states as scientists make further warnings of what’s to come

The European Environment Agency has reported that 11 of the member states of the European Union (EU) have exceeded the emission limits set by the Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution (LRTAP), which set emmission ceilings to be achieved by 2010. Although emmisions have reduced in the last 20 years, Denmark and Spain both exceeded three ceilings (for nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and ammonia (NH3). Germany exceeded its ceilings for NMVOCs and NOx. Seven other countries exceeded the NOx ceiling and one the ammonia ceiling.

However, more legislation is needed in areas of high pollution, such as China, say researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, Germany. If not, they predict that by 2050 the air quality worldwide will be as bad as in urban areas of southeast Asia

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