Second UAE ‘National Air Pollutant Inventory Study’ results released by Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
The National Air Pollutant Inventory Study's second edition's findings were released today by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. The goal was to undertake a thorough examination into the volume of air pollution emissions coming from diverse sectors of the nation. This edition's data set was created using emissions data up to 2019.
The study is part of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment's initiatives to enhance air quality through a number of projects that will be implemented as part of the UAE Environment Policy. One of its most important objectives is to raise air quality levels in order to shield society from the negative health impacts brought on by its decline, hence boosting society's well-being and prosperity and assuring a better environment.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment collaborated with 128 strategic partners and relevant specialised organisations from the federal government, local governments, the semi-governmental sector, and the private sector to hold a number of bilateral and consultative meetings and workshops as part of the study preparation process.
The National Air Pollutant Inventory Study seeks to update inventories of air pollutant emissions and quantify the emissions from significant industries, such as the energy, transportation, building, industrial processes and product use (IPPU), agricultural, waste, and animal sectors. It also seeks to comprehend and examine the kinds of contaminants, emissions, sources, and rates in order to create plans for bettering air quality.
At the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Essa Al Hashmi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector and Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Green Development and Climate Change Sector, stated: "The Ministry is collaborating with various partners to find feasible solutions for various environmental and climate challenges in the country. One of the most crucial challenges when trying to enhance quality of life and foster a healthy environment for society is air quality.
He said, "The National Air Pollutant Inventory Study examines environmental policies and their accomplishment of their objectives, and it determines the real causes of air pollution emissions in the country across various industries. By using the most recent global systems for monitoring air contaminants, the study produces accurate data. In order to develop policies and plans aimed at improving air quality on the basis of sound and realistic foundations, this will give updated facts and statistics that outline the current situation. This will ensure the effectiveness of subsequent policies and projects and their compatibility with the present situation.
Results
The main findings of the National Air Pollutant Inventory Study showed fluctuations in estimated emissions for the majority of pollutants between 2015 and 2019, primarily because of an increase in overall activity levels. However, it should be emphasised that increased natural gas use, improvements in oil and gas sector operations, and an increase in sulphur extraction units all contributed to a large decrease in predicted sulphur dioxide emissions.
As a result of the implementation of the Euro 4 standard on new vehicles in 2018, the study's findings also showed a reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions from the transportation sector. Additionally, the results showed steady nitrogen oxide emissions between 2015 and 2019 as a result of stable emissions in the energy generation sector. It is anticipated that these pollutants will drastically decline as a result of operating the Barakah nuclear power plant for the purpose of producing clean, renewable energy.
The survey also showed that the transportation sector, notably light automobiles, was responsible for the second-highest percentage of carbon monoxide emissions, coming after the industrial and material usage sector. Construction and demolition operations were the main causes of particulate matter emissions (PM10, PM2.5) with sizes smaller than 10 and 2.5 microns. The findings also showed that light automobiles and fertilisers were the leading sources of ammonia emissions in the nation.
Investigate the execution process
As part of the National Air Pollutant Inventory Study, emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 microns, particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 microns, and non-methane volatile organic compounds were inventoried and their quantities were determined in a number of key sectors, including energy, transportation, industrial processes and product use (IPPU), as well as those resulting from waste.
Construction and demolition work were added to the list of industrial processes and product uses in this study, along with railroads and the energy industry, and ammonia was added as a pollutant.
The EMEP/EEA Air Pollutant Emission Inventory Guidebook 2019 is a widely regarded reference manual for such studies, and it is used by European, North American, Asian, and other countries. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment relied on the methodologies and emission factors specified in it to calculate emissions rates from different sectors. The manual offers open approaches that let you compare your findings to those from other nations.
