Emissions of acidifying gases and ozone precursors, 2000, preliminary figures

In the Gothenburg Protocol, Norway agreed to emission ceilings for nitrogen oxides (NO_X), Non- Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOC) and ammonia (NH₃). The emissions are to be reduced to various degrees in 1990-2010.

Emissions of volatile organic compounds up

Emissions of NMVOC continue to increase, and went up by more than 5 per cent last year, ending the trend of declining emissions in place since 1996. The increase is due to higher production of oil. If Norway is to comply with the Gothenburg Protocol, emissions must be cut almost in half over the next 10 years. In the 1991 VOC Protocol, Norway agreed to reduce emissions by 30 per cent from the 1989 level by 1999. Emissions nevertheless grew 27 per cent in this period. Around half of Norways NMVOC emissions today are from evaporation during the loading and storing of crude oil offshore. The NPCA has issued an order to reduce these emissions significantly from 2005. Emissions from road traffic continued to decline in 2000, which is mainly due to the effect of emission standards for petrol-powered vehicles. Emissions from solvents and petrol-powered vehicles also account for a significant share of emissions.

Emissions of nitrogen oxides down

Emissions of NO_X have also fallen by 6 per cent (14 000 tons) since 1999. For the 10-year period from 1990 to 2000 emissions were reduced by only 1 per cent (2 500 tons). There is still quite a way to go before the emission ceiling of the Gothenburg Protocol has been achieved. Emissions must be reduced by a further 25% before 2010. Ships and oil and gas operations accounted for 43 and 14 per cent respectively of the emissions in 1999. Measures to reduce these sources have not been agreed to as yet. The decline in the past year is mostly attributed to reduced emissions from road traffic and shipping. Emissions from road traffic will continue to decline as a result of approved emission standards. For road traffic, the increasing percentage of vehicles fitted with catalytic converters have lowered emissions. In 1990 only 7 per cent of petrol-powered cars had catalytic converters, while 57 per cent had them in 2000.

There are, however, many indications that NO_X emissions in 2000 were actually somewhat higher than our figures show, which means the decline was not as high as 6 per cent. Emission calculations for road traffic are based on sales figures, not consumption, and it looks like the consumption of auto diesel and petrol in 2000 did not fall as much as sales. This is because of the drawdown of stocks at filling stations in December 2000 as a result of the Norwegian national assemblys decision to reduce fuel taxes from 1 January 2001. Sales have risen since the taxes were cut. Combined sales of auto diesel were 20 per cent higher in January and February 2001 than in the same period in 2000. The corresponding figure for petrol is 11 per cent (see also the article on emissions of greenhouse gases).

Emissions of ammonia up

Preliminary calculations for the year 2000 show ammonia emissions of around 27 000 tons, equivalent to an increase of 18 per cent compared with 1990. Emissions in the last year increased by 2 per cent. These emissions must be reduced by a further 15 per cent by 2010 in accordance with the Gothenburg Protocol. Ammonia emissions stem mainly from commercial fertilizer and manure and from ammonia treatment of straw. A small percentage of the emissions is related to mobile sources.