Acidifying emissions

Between 2005 and 2023, potentially acidifying emissions (open definition) decreased from 11,244 to 4,885 million acid equivalents. This corresponds to a decrease of 57%. This figure is the sum of the emissions of 3 acidifying substances: sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and ammonia (NH₃). This sum is expressed in acid equivalents, taking into account the acid-forming capacity of each substance.

The decrease in potentially acidifying emissions between 2005 and 2023 is largely due to a significant decline in SO₂ emissions (-85%). NH₃ and NO_x emissions dropped by respectively 19% and 58% in this period.

In 2023, NH₃ (46%) and NO_X (44%) contributed the most to the acidifying emissions. The share of SO₂ was much more limited (11%).

Agriculture was in 2023 by far the most important source of potentially acidifying emissions (49%), followed by transport (27%), industry (14%) and energy (7%).

The largest decrease between 2005 and 2023 occurred in the energy sector (-85%) and there was also a significant decrease in industry (-59%). Both sectors mainly emit NO_X and SO₂, and the decrease was mainly the result of emission-reducing measures.

There was also a significant decrease in the transport sector (-63%). This mainly concerns the reduction in NO_X emissions due to stricter emission standards.

Agriculture, producing especially NH₃ emissions, recorded a 24% decrease between 2005 and 2023. Agricultural emissions decreased slightly until 2008 due to the decrease in livestock, increased feed efficiency, low-emission application of livestock manure and construction of low-emission stables. After that, emissions remained more or less stable and fell slightly again from 2014 onwards. Since 2022, the decline has been somewhat stronger. The decline in NH₃ emissions in 2022 and 2023 is mainly due to a sharp drop in the amount of pigs.