4 th Pan-European Environment Assessment (Belgrade report) Air Quality in WCE and EECCA and

1. 4th Pan-European Environment Assessment (Belgrade report) Air Quality in WCE and EECCA and Repercussions for Air Quality Monitoring and Assessment in EECCA Jaroslav Fiala European Environment Agency Copenhagen, Denmark

2. Objectives of the Belgrade report • Kiev Ministerial declaration called on the EEA to prepare the fourth assessment report for the Environment for Europe ministerial conference in Belgrade this year. • A request was to produce a short, policy oriented (basis for action, awareness raising), indicator based report assessing progress in the region based on recent information.

3. Air Qualitypart of the Environment and Healthchapter DPSIR casual chain applied throughout the chapter Progress in air quality protection policy (D) • CLRTAP • EU air quality policy • EECCA Environmental strategy Atmospheric Emissions (P) • Emission trends • Emission by topic and sector Ambient air quality (S) • Trends of air quality in WCE and SEE • Air quality in EECCA region • Air pollution by particles Impact of air pollution (I) • Health impact • Acidification and eutrophication • Impact of ground level ozone on vegetation Prospects (R) • Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution – revision of NECD • Challenges for the Convention

4. Atmospheric emissions trends and projections Air EmissionsKey Messages: • In WCE, despite continuing economic growth, the legislation on air quality, together with associated abatement measures and economic instruments, have led to a continuing decrease in emissions of air pollutants since 2000. • Projected emissions are to decline during the next two decades as a result of progressive implementation of current and envisaged emission control legislation and continuing structural changes in the energy system. % changes in emissions, 2000–2004 • In EECCA, emissions of most air pollutants have increased by more than 10 % since 2000 as a result of economic recovery, increase in transport, and the persisting poor effectiveness of air pollution protection policies. • Source: 2000–2004 emission data: official country reports to UNECE/EMEP. • 2010–2020 emission projections (CAFE baseline current legislation with climate policies): IIASA/RAINS, 2004

5. Ambient air pollution and Impacts Key Message: Loss in statistical life expectancyattributed to anthropogenic contributions to PM2.5 (months) Emission levels: 2000Source: IIASA; TSAP, DG Env • Despite the progress in emission reductions ambient air pollution, mainly by fine particles and ground-level ozone, continues to pose a significant threat to human health. It shortens average life expectancy in WCE by almost one year and threatens the healthy development of children. Air pollution by fine particles represents the highest risk to public health in all regions, higher than that of other air pollutants. The estimated annual loss of life is significantly greater than that due to car accidents.

6. Ambient air pollution in EECCAKey Message: Average annual population-weighted PM10 urban concentrations in WCE and SEE, and population-weighted PM10 concentrations based on monitored TSP concentrations in EECCA Comparison of monitored data with PM10 concentrations modelled by the Global Model of Ambient Particulates (GMAPS) Average annual population-weighted TSP urban concentrations in EECCA • In EECCA, the poor quality of the data precludes in-depth assessment of the state of air quality and its consequences. The limited data available indicate that the main health threat due to air pollution is also from small particles and their toxic constituents. TSP concentrations in EECCA countries are quite high (e.g. comparing with the modelled data). Generally applied sampling procedure - 20 minutes three or four times a day - seem to lead to rather unreliable, and to some extent systematically overestimated observations.

7. Lessons learned Problems • Although air quality has been monitored in all EECCA countries for many years, the lack of data of sufficient quality, very limited info on monitoring station types and missing mechanism for exchanging air quality monitoring data in EECCA like the one in place in the EEA region hampers in-depth assessment of the state of air quality in the region. • The EECCA countries have redesigned their monitoring systems in recent years. However, obsolete measuring methods are still widely in use due to lack of funds (UNECE, 2006). • Monitoring is under the control of different authorities with often poorly-defined responsibilities and/or very different functional competences (WHO, 2005b). Monitoring of small particles (PM10 and PM2.5) and ozone is limited at present. No support in current legislation. • Extensive, inefficient and unenforceable set of air quality standards (MAC). Standards need to be harmonised with the recent WHO guidelines

8. Actions for improvement Short term actions • EECCA countries can use the European air quality information system for the exchange of AQ data between EECCA countries. This will make data available for mutual comparisons, for the ‘Pan EECCA’ and Pan European assessments and others. • Intercomparison measurements – namely PM measurements. (AQUILA) • Participation of experts from EECCA on the EIONET Workshops (e.g. EIONET workshop on air quality assessment and management). Needs to find resources. Long term actions • Given in the draft strategy of air quality monitoring as an environmental policy tool in EECCA and in presentations during the Workshop • Harmonize/rationalize set controlled ambient air pollutants based on risk to human health of general public and to the environment. Implementation of PM10/PM2.5 monitoring. • Implementation – improvement of QA/QC

9. Thank you for your attention !