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AIR EMISSIONS IN FRANCE
  
   
     
 

Page last updated : 15/05/2008

At the request of the French Ministry of Environment, the CITEPA acts as National Reference Centre on Air Emissions. Therefore, CITEPA regularly produces estimations of quantities emitted into the atmosphere from different sources for various substances. This task confirms the knowledge and the experience acquired since mid 1960s in this field.

Emissions estimations are produced using a recognised methodology based on the CORINAIR system developed by the European Environment Agency which is widely used in Europe and compatible with United Nations' recommendations.

The extensive data available is reported according to various "formats".

They can be classified depending on the following criteria :

  • Substances and indicators currently covered
    Acidification, eutrophication and photochemistry : SO2, NOx, NH3, NMVOC (total and speciation in more than 200 different compounds), CO, acid equivalent index (Aeq).

    Greenhouse effect : CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs (total and speciation for 8 compounds), PFCs (total and speciation for 5 compounds), SF6 and global warning potential (GWP) based on a time horizon of 100 years.

    Heavy metals : Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Selenium (Se), Zinc (Zn).

    Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) : Trichloroethylene (TRI), Trichloroethane (TCE), Tetrachloroethylene (PER), Dioxins and furans (Diox), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and Hexachlorobenzene (HCB).

    Particulate Matter : total suspended particulate matter (TSP), fine particles (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1.0).

    Density indicators relating to population, area, gross national product (GNP), primary energy consumption, etc.

    An example is shown in the figure below.

  • geographical coverage and spatial distribution : data are provided both for mainland France (including Corsica) and overseas areas (overseas départements and overseas territories, collectively known by their French acronym DOM-TOM) and also at various sub-levels ("regions", "départements", "arrondissements" and sixty urban areas with over 100 000 inhabitants). The most extensive data is available for mainland France.
  • sectoral coverage and resolution : this criteria is one of the major differencies observed from one inventory to another. It is generally defined under international Conventions under the aegis of the United Nations or more basically in terms of reference in each particular study.
  • temporal coverage and resolution : in most cases, emission are provided for complete calendar years. Data are available for various periods depending on the substances and geographical area :
    • since 1960 : SO2, NOx, CO and CO2 (mainland France only)
    • since 1980 : NH3 (mainland France only)
    • since 1988 : NMVOCs (mainland France only)
    • since 1990 : other substances (mainland France only) and the above-mentioned substances for the DOM-COM.
    • emission projections for the 15-20 years to come are produced
    • on request, hourly emission data can be elaborated.

     

Emission reporting "formats"
Emission data are available in various "formats" with some restrictions (*).

UNFCCC/CRF to comply with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (10 substances - mainland France and DOM-TOM - annual data since 1990.
UNECE to comply with the UNECE Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (21 substances - mainland France only - annually since 1980, 1988 or 1990, depending on substances).
SECTEN to report emissions for traditional economic sectors (28 substances - mainland France annually since 1960, 1980, 1988 or 1990, depending on substances; 11 substances - DOM-TOM annually since 1990).
NAMEA to report emissions in accordance with NACE (20 substances - mainland France only - annually since 1980, 1988 or 1990, depending on substances).
GIC to comply with the EU Directive 2001/80/EC on Large Combustion Plants (LCPs) (SO2, NOx and PM - mainland France and DOM are covered).
EMEP to report, as requested by the EMEP (grid 50 x 50 km²), under the UNECE Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (20 substances - 1995 mainland France only and 27 substances for the year 2000 - every five years, current data available refer to 2000).
DEPARTEMENT similar to the UNECE format for each of 100 French "départements" (NUTS 3) (26 French regions (NUTS 2), 20 substances, years 1994 and 1995 for mainland France, 27 subsatances for the year 2000 - 10 substances, annually since 1990 for DOM-TOM).
PRQA similar to the SECTEN format, developed for the Regional Air Quality Plans. Implemented at the level of "arrondissements" (NUTS 4) and urban areas with over 100 000 inhabitants (6 substances - year 1994 only for mainland France and the DOM-TOM).


Availability of data may be limited depending on substances, the level of detail, years, geographical area, data formats, the form in which the data is available, and particular conditions for accessibility may apply. See the list of publications or contact CITEPA.

NUTS Nomenclature des Unités Territoriales Statistiques defined by EUROSTAT for all Member States of the European Union according to administrative and size criteria. For France, the different levels are as follows :

NUTS 0 "France entière" - France as a whole (mainland France + overseas departments (DOM) - 1
NUTS 1 "Zones Economiques d'Aménagement du Territoire (ZEAT)" + DOM - 9.
NUTS 2 "Régions" - 26 (22 in mainland France and 4 in the DOM).
NUTS 3 Départements - 100 (96 in et 4 DOM).
NUTS 4 "Arrondissements" - 339 (327 in mainland France and 12 in the DOM).



CORINAIR CORe INventory of AIR emissions in Europe: this work programme, established by the European Commission in the mid 1980s and subsequently managed by the European Environment Agency, has developed an European methodology which is internationally recognized and used by a significant number of European countries.

Developments are on-going in close cooperation with EMEP (Co-operative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long Range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe) within the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations (UNECE).

 

  
   
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