Author(s)

JOANA FERREIRA, DIOGO LOPES, SÍLVIA COELHO, ALEXANDRA MONTEIRO, MYRIAM LOPES, DÍLIA JARDIM, FILIPA MARQUES, FILOMENA BOAVIDA, ANA I. MIRANDA

Abstract

The new National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive was transposed into Portuguese law in 2018 creating the obligation to comply with the established NEC for Portugal and to develop a National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP). An analysis of emission trends and projections, and potential air quality and environmental impacts, was performed as a support to the NAPCP. Notwithstanding the emissions reduction trend, NEC noncompliance cases are still foreseen for SO_x, NMVOC and PM_2.5 under a 2030 current level legislation scenario. In terms of air quality impacts, a likely compliance with air quality objectives for health protection is expected for NO₂ and PM_2.5, with an increase of O₃ levels. Based on the obtained results, it is possible to identify the need for further emission reduction measures and for the air quality simulation of other scenarios.

Keywords

NEC directive, emission projections, air quality impacts, modelling