Transboundary

Assessment of transboundary contributions to air pollution in Germany

Overview

Air pollution is a transboundary challenge – pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) can significantly affect air quality across national borders. This project, commissioned by the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA), investigates how emissions from neighbouring countries contribute to air pollution levels in Germany and how this can affect compliance with current and future European air quality standards.

One of the main goals is to develop a methodological framework for the assessment and presentation of transboundary contributions to air pollution levels and exceedances, which complies with the reporting obligations from the National Emission Ceilings (NEC) and Air Quality Directives, and the needs for discussions with neighbouring countries.

Using advanced atmospheric modelling, the project quantifies the contributions of different countries and emission sectors to air pollutant concentrations across Germany. It combines state-of-the-art source apportionment techniques, including tagging and sensitivity analyses, to provide detailed insights into both current conditions and future emission scenarios, and to assess the applicability of different source attribution methods/tools.

TNO’s role

TNO leads the scientific and technical implementation of the project. We create and evaluate a methodological framework to compare different source attribution methods. Using the Lotos-Euros model, we deliver detailed assessments of sectoral and geographic contributions to PM and NO₂ concentrations. In addition, we evaluate the potential impact of emission reduction strategies through scenario analyses and the application of the SHERPA policy tool.

We present the results of the project in international gremia (International Air Quality Conference and FAIRMODE meetings).

Key partners

The project is carried out in collaboration with the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS), which provides their expertise in atmospheric modelling using the WRF-Chem model and ozone source attribution.