Nox levels fall by 72% since 1970.

[Taffy7hfa]

Nitrogen oxides hit ‘record low’, Defra reports

15.02.2018

Emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen up to 10% in 2017 compared to levels recorded the previous year, a report published today by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has suggested.

The report, which details annual emissions of air pollutants in the UK from 1970 to 2017, suggests that nitrogen oxide levels have fallen by 72% since 1970 to their lowest level during that time period.

The decline in nitrogen oxide emissions is thought to be linked to the closure of a number of coal-fired power stations across the country since 2012, as the government seeks to move towards more sustainable forms of power generation.

Defra estimates that NOx emissions from energy generation have fallen by as much as 45% during this time, . Emissions of nitrogen from road transport and other industrial sources have also fallen since 2012, but at a slower rate of decline, the report adds.

Long term trend

Looking at the long term trend in NOx, the report notes: “Increases in road traffic account for the climb in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions between 1984 and 1989. However the introduction of catalytic converters and stricter emission regulations have resulted in a strong downward trend since 1990.Transport still accounts for 49% of UK NOx emissions in 2017 and the rate of reduction from this sector has slowed down due to the increased contribution from diesel vehicles. Emissions from power stations and industrial combustion plant have also reduced significantly, reflecting a long-term trend away from the use of coal and oil in favour of natural gas and renewable energy sources.

“The recent 23% decrease in total NOx emissions between 2012 and 2016 occurred due to similar reasons to those detailed for SO2: the closure of a number of coal-fired power stations meant that emissions from the energy industries fell by 45% over that period which was the greatest change for any emissions source group. Road transport, non-road transport and industrial combustion emissions, in comparison, fell by 12%, 6% and 20% respectively.”

Overall the report points at a long term decrease in emissions of all monitored air pollutants: ammonia, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds and particulate matter.

 

[bembo449]

cant say im surprised by this report but doesn't explain why us derv drivers are being bashed over the head by the government

 

[V6Matty]

cant say im surprised by this report but doesn't explain why us derv drivers are being bashed over the head by the government

Because they can

 

[LostKiwi]

So they're saying the introduction of cats in the early 90s reduced NOx even though catalytic converters only act on CO?
Someone needs to go think that through again I think.

Edit: I was thinking of the older 2 way cats. Three way cats do indeed reduce NOx.

 

[Frontstep]

Thats a new one on me,

 

[Craiglxviii]

Because they can

Because politics is based on hype and populism and NOT fact and data...

 

[Frontstep]

The image below from the European Troponi satellite shows how 20 or so ships in the med have a dramatic effect with their nitrogen dioxide trails;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43926232

We all need to clean up our acts but this and the many other pollution problems around the world I look upon and I cannot think of any time I have thrown plastic in the sea or on beaches, nor broken up old ships, burnt old electronics etc etc.

I cannot consider myself responsible for other peoples pollution.

 

[Craiglxviii]

There was a documentary about a chap interested in recycling, who physically followed one of his disposed of articles- a shampoo bottle or suchlike. From his house to a local depot, baled up and off to Felixstowe, then to Guangzhou where it was offloaded. Sat there a month while the local facilities haggled the cost per ton of recycling grade placcy; they weren’t prepared to pay the rate asked by the sales agent so off the consignment went to Honkers (same fate) and ultimately ended up somewhere in Laos or Cambodia, being picked apart in a puddle by kids looking for fresh water.

The simple fact remains that as long as there is an open market, free division of labour and value add in any form or combination of forms of cash economies, then there will always be a “most efficient” place to carry out any particular activity. And the low value add ones tend towards the human resource rich/ strategic resource poor countries. If the cost of shipping, tacked on to the cost of manufacture, still adds up to less than the cost to manufacture in a more local area, then we take the cost of the pollution across the value chain we have created.

The alternative is to accept an increased cost of consumer goods.