The Netherlands' National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP-NL)
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The Netherlands’ national air pollution control programme (NAPCP-NL) This NAPCP has been drawn up in accordance with Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1522 of 11 October 2018 laying down a common format for national air pollution control programmes in accordance with article 6 of Directive (EU) 2016/2284 1. FIELD DESCRIPTIONS All fields in this common format that are marked (M) are mandatory and those marked (O) are optional. 2 COMMON FORMAT 2.1 Title of the programme, contact information and websites 2.1.1. Title of the programme, contact information and websites (M) Title of the programme: NAPCP-NL Date: 29 March 2019 Member State: The Netherlands Name of competent authority responsible for drawing up the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management AVT19/IW127934A 1 programme: Telephone number of responsible service: - Email address of responsible service: - Link to website where the programme is published: www.rijksoverheid.nl and www.platformparticipatie.nl/nec Link(s) to website(s) on the consultation(s) on the programme: www.platformparticipatie.nl/nec 2.2 Executive summary Background Over the past 20 years, partly as a result of EU policy, Europe has seen a significant improvement in anthropogenic atmospheric emissions and air quality. Directive 2001/81/EC on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants (NECD) has been instrumental in that progress by setting limits for 2010 onwards. As set out in the 7th Environment Action Programme, the European Union is aiming to achieve levels of air quality that do not give rise to significant negative impacts on, and risks to, human health and the environment. This objective was one reason for revising the NECD. The revised Directive (2016/2284/EU) establishes emission reduction commitments for each Member State’s anthropogenic atmospheric emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), ammonia (NH3) and particulate matter (PM2.5). The commitments are expressed as percentages, taking 2005 as the base year, and are applicable from 2020 to 2029 and from 2030 onwards. The revised NECD should contribute to achieving the European air quality objectives in a cost- effective manner.1 When determining the reduction commitments for each Member State, cost-effectiveness and technical feasibility were important criteria. This updated legislation is projected to almost halve the negative health impacts of air pollution, including premature death, by 2030 [European Commission, 2016].2 Under Article 6 of the NECD, each Member State must draw up a national air pollution control programme (NAPCP) indicating how it will comply with its emission reduction commitment. It must be updated every four years. This is the Netherlands’ first NAPCP under the revised NECD (2016/2284/EU). It has been 1 See, for example, points 1, 2, 7 and 9 in the NECD (2016/2284/EU). 2 A bibliography is provided at the end of the NAPCP. AVT19/IW127934A 2 drawn up using the format specified by the European Commission in Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1522 and must be submitted to the Commission by 1 April 2019 (article 10, paragraph 1). The emission reduction commitments for the Netherlands are incorporated in the Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet) as environmental standards. The Netherlands will comply with the NECD emission reduction commitments The Netherlands has been implementing policy since the 1990s to limit emissions of air pollutants in various sectors, one example being the regulatory emission requirements for industry and farms. These rules also stem from the transposing of European directives into national legislation. Conditions attached to environmental permits and the Environmental Management (General Rules for Establishments) Decree (Activiteitenbesluit) prescribe the use of best available techniques (BAT) and preventive measures to prevent or limit air pollutant emissions. In addition, tax incentive schemes such as the environmental investment tax credit (MIA) and arbitrary depreciation of environmental investments (VAMIL) offer businesses tax benefits for investing in environmentally-friendly solutions, including emission-reducing technologies. The European source-based policy for transport also does much to limit emissions. Policy on air quality has likewise had an effect, with the result that emissions of the five substances regulated under the NECD have fallen by 60-80% since 1990 (see also table 2.4.1 in this document). This substantial reduction is depicted in the figure below [Compendium voor de Leefomgeving, 2018]. Atmospheric emissions of acidifying pollutants 800 Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 600 Non-methane volatile organic 400 compounds kiloton (NMVOC) 200 Ammonia (NH3) 0 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 The bullets in the figure are the emission ceilings for 2010, 2020 and 2030 Source www.clo.nl/nl018324 AVT19/IW127934A 3 Considering the knowledge currently available and based on the measures taken and decided upon, the Netherlands appears likely to comply with its emission reduction commitments. This is confirmed by projections in the monitoring report published by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) entitled ‘Informative Inventory report 2018’ [Wever, 2018], which is why the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) concludes in its report (Balans van de Leefomgeving 2018, p. 266 [Egmond, 2018]) that the NECD targets for 2020 and 2030 are likely to be achieved if the policy is properly implemented. Table 2.5 of this NAPCP explains in more detail that the Netherlands is projected to comply with its emission reduction commitments for both 2020 and 2030 if it pursues the adopted policy. New air quality policy in the making: the Clean Air Agreement In addition to the adopted policy measures, work is under way on a new national air quality policy. In a letter to parliament dated 25 April 2018 (Parliamentary Papers 30 175 no. 292), the Dutch government announced that it will work to improve air quality in order to reduce the health risks associated with air pollution, taking the targets of the World Health Organization as its guide. A new national air quality action plan had already been announced in the third Rutte government’s 2017-2021 coalition agreement. The government’s Clean Air Agreement will focus on the health gains of better air quality, in accordance with the advisory report of the Health Council of the Netherlands entitled Health benefits through cleaner air [Gezondheidsraad, 2018], published in January 2018. Over the past few years, experience has shown that cooperation between all tiers of government and at European and international levels is needed to achieve better air quality. The government aims to present the Clean Air Agreement to the Dutch parliament in 2019. It will comprise a mixture of source-based measures to limit emissions and local measures to improve air quality. These measures are not included in this NAPCP, as they have yet to be determined. The National Climate Agreement Climate policy and air quality policy are closely intertwined. Energy efficiency and sustainable energy options such as solar and wind power reduce emissions of both greenhouse gases (GHG) and air pollutants. It is worth mentioning, in light of climate change, the bill prohibiting coal-based electricity production, which will result in the two oldest coal-fired power plants no longer firing coal by the end of 2024, and the remaining three by the end of 2029. The bill was submitted to the Council of State on 12 October 2018 [Wetgevingskalender 2018]. In connection with the Paris Agreement, a National Climate Agreement is being drafted, with one central goal: by 2030, to reduce GHG emissions in the Netherlands by 49% compared with 1990 levels. Additionally, the Dutch government’s efforts at EU level could result in an even more ambitious target of 55% [SER, 2018]. The impact of the National Climate Agreement on air pollutant emissions has not yet been incorporated into the Informative Inventory Report 2018 projections used AVT19/IW127934A 4 in the NAPCP, but will be taken into account in the new air pollutant emission estimates to be calculated in 2019 for the National Energy Outlook (NEO). The updated NAPCP to be submitted by 1 April 2023 will, however, include the definitive impact of the climate policy. Consultation of stakeholders and the public During the drafting stage, the NAPCP was discussed with provincial and municipal authorities, environment and planning agencies, civil society organisations and industry. These consultations took place on 19 April 2018 and 6 September 2018. The draft programme was sent to the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW), the Association of Provincial Authorities (IPO) and the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG). The subject was also on the agenda of the meeting of the Benelux countries on 28 March 2018. The programme was presented to neighbouring member states (Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom) with a request for comments. No reactions have been received. Finally, in accordance with article 6, paragraph 5 of the NECD, the government also held a public consultation on the programme, through the application of part 3.4 of the General Administrative Law Act. Four views were presented, three of which were from members of the public who mainly expressed their concern about air quality in the Netherlands, and one from Energie- Nederland, the trade association for energy