Explanation of Key Trends - Non Methane Volatile Organic Compounds

Last updated on 29 Aug 2019 09:29 (cf. Authors)

Obligations

Germany has made a commitment under the Gothenburg Protocol to reduce NMVOC emissions. Since 2010, it is no longer permissible to exceed a National Emission Ceiling of 995kt NMVOC for Germany as whole. The revised Gothenburg Protocol and the revised NEC Directive both define emission reduction targets relative to a 2005 base year, mandating 13% (2020) and 28% (2030) reductions respectively.

Further details can be found in Chapter 9 - Projections and Chapter 11 - Adjustments and Emission Ceiling Exceedance.

Main drivers

NMVOC total emissions show a falling trend from 1990 onwards, with emission reductions of 68,9% between 1990 and 2017 with a bump in 2010 after the dent of 2008 and 2009 due to the economic situation. The last few years show emissions stagnating between 2014 and 2017. The Main Drivers for NMVOC emissions are Fuel Combustion (NFR 1.A) with about half of total 1990 emissions and a 87% reduction between 1990 and 2017. In the Fuel Combustion category, Road Transport (NFR 1.A.3.b) is responsible for about 70% of the 1990 Fuel Combustion emissions, with Passenger Cars (NFR 1.A.3.b.i) emitting nearly all of it. Reductions over 90% in those categories between 1990 and 2017 are mainly due to increasingly stricter regulations, especially incentives for automobile users to retrofit/buy cars with catalytic converters. Furthermore the implementation of the Technical Instruction on Air Quality Control (TA-Luft 2002), to decreases in emissions from petrol storage and from fuelling of motor vehicles (1.B.2.a.v) - as a result of implementation of the 20th and 21st Ordinances on the Execution of the Federal Imission Control Act (BImSchV) - and to reduced petrol consumption play a major role in the reduction of NMVOC emissions within the category Fugitive Emissions from fossil fuels (NRF 1.B.2). Substantial emissions also come from Non-Energy Products from Fuels (NFR 2.D), emitting 35% of total 1990 emissions and a 52% reduction between 1990 and 2017.

NMVOC Emissions 1990-2017

Total Emissions (Gg) Trend: latest compared to
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 1990 last years
3439 2066 1638 1349 1257 1147 1146 1102 1068 1042 1043 1068 down_green.png -68.9% stagnate_yellow.png

NMVOC trend by sector

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