Selection

Select here what should be displayed in the chart and in the table.

This table includes additional information to the above visualized indicators, i.e. a short definition of this indicator and a description of the politically determined target values as well as explaining the political intention behind selecting this indicator.

Definition (Text from the Indicator Report 2022 - State 31.10.2022)

The indicator presents the mean value of the indices of national emissions for the five air pollutants sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), ammonia (NH₃), volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) and particulate matter (PM₂.₅).
Target and intention (Text from the Indicator Report 2022 - State 31.10.2022)

Air pollutants do not only impair human health, but also ecosystems and biodiversity. Therefore, the unweighted mean of emissions of air pollutants should be reduced by 45 % by 2030 compared to 2005. This target is based on the commitment of Germany towards the European Union (EU) to reduce emissions of individual air pollutants by 2030 as follows: SO₂ by 58 %, NOₓ by 65 %, NH₃ by 29 %, NMVOC by 28 % and PM₂.₅ by 43 %.
Definition

The indicator represents the mean value of the indices of national emissions of the five air pollutants sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxide (NOₓ), ammonia (NH₃), volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) and particulate matter (PM₂.₅) compared to the base year 2005.
Intention

Air pollution not only affects people”s health, but also ecosystems and biodiversity. The unweighted average of emissions of certain air pollutants should therefore fall by 45 per cent by 2030 compared to 2005. This target is based on Germany”s commitment to the European Union (EU) to reduce emissions of individual air pollutants by 2030 as follows: Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) by 58 per cent, nitrogen oxide (NOₓ) by 65 per cent, ammonia (NH₃) by 29 per cent, volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) by 28 per cent and particulate matter (PM₂.₅) by 43 per cent.
Target

Reduction of emissions to 55 per cent of 2005 level
(unweighted average of the five pollutants) by 2030
Type of target

Goal with a specific target value
Implemen­tation in weather symbol calculation

Emissions of air pollutants are to be reduced to a maximum of 55 per cent of the 2005 level by 2030.


Based on the target formulation (despite stagnation in 2021 and 2022), if the average development of the last six years continues, the politically defined target would already be achieved in 2025. Indicator 3.2.a is rated “Sun” for the year 2023.
Assessment

Weathersymbol: Sun
Data state

29.01.2025

Text from the Indicator Report 2022 

This indicator is an unweighted arithmetic mean and summarizes the percentage development of released emissions in Germany, these are sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), ammonia (NH₃), volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) and particulate matter (PM₂.₅). The individual rates of change of the single air pollutants are offset equally against one another, even if the causes and the consequences differ. Thus, this indicator is mere indirectly dependent on the fulfilment of emission reduction targets set by the European Union. Hence, the reduction targets for the indicator might be met, while emission reduction targets for individual air pollutants are missed.

The data is computed annually by the German Environment Agency using various sources. They serve as a basis for the reporting obligation pursuant to the Geneva Convention and the National Emission Ceilings Directive. The data is further processed within the context of the Federal Statistical Office’s Environmental-Economic Accounts. As a result, emissions are published according to various production sectors and households along with other emitters.

Emissions of air pollutants overall fell by 34.8 % until 2020 from 2005. The indicator thus moved in the intended direction and will reach the target for 2030 if the development remains the same. Emissions of individual pollutants changed to varying degrees in the period from 2005 to 2020. Based on the development of the preceding years, compliance with the emission reduction targets by 2030 is feasible, to which Germany is committed towards the EU. In fact, Germany might reach the target for every single air pollutant.

Emissions of volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), which are primarily due to the industrial use of solvents, were significantly reduced by 30.4 % during the specified period.

In the specified period emissions of particulate matter (PM₂.₅) have been reduced by 39.8 %. At 26.9 %, the largest proportion of PM₂.₅ emissions originated from households and small consumers in 2020. The industry sector produced 25.9 % emissions. The transport sector accounted for 26.5 % of PM₂.₅ emissions in the same year and, thus, decreased by 9.3 percentage points compared to 2005.

Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) were reduced by 40.1 % until 2020 in comparison to 2005, hence going in the intended direction. In 2020 the main share of nitrogen oxides was emitted mainly by transport and the energy sector.

Emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO₂), which are mainly generated in the energy sector, decreased by 50.8 % in the specified period.

In 2019 and 2020, the emissions of ammonia (NH) decreased for the first time significantly below 2005 level. During the period under consideration from 2005 to 2020, the decline adds up to 10.9 %. However, ammonia emissions increased temporarily between 2005 and 2018, such that the overall reductions are rather small. Agricultural land use, among others the output of fermentation residues after the fermentation of energy crops, mainly caused the temporary growth of emissions between 2005 and 2018. Agricultural land use is responsible for about half of the ammonia emissions. Emissions from this source increased during the period from 2005 to 2018 and are decreasing since 2016. Since 2019, they are below the value from 2005 for the first time.