Air quality improvement is one of the main priorities of Environmental policy in Latvia. Besides taking into account air pollution transboundary character, these issues also are prior to UN (United Nations) and European Union environmental policy.
Latvia has joined UN/ECE Convention “Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution” and all protocols to this Convention.
Air protection in Latvia
Law “On Pollution” (2001) and Cabinet Regulations on air quality (2003) regulates air quality requirements and measures that should be implemented to provide air quality in Latvia.
Law “On Pollution” regulates general measures for air quality norms and measures that provide air quality as well as terms (limit values, target values, emission limit values and limits) and general regulations for reduction and control of air polluting substances emission.
However Cabinet Regulations on air quality defines air quality norms for open air as well as terms to achieve them, methods for air pollution sampling and analysis, conditions for location of air quality monitoring stations, aims of measurements and dispersion sample data quality, conditions and criteria for air quality assessment, requirements regarding content, approval and implementation of action programs/plans for air quality improvement.
According to the mentioned legislation, air quality standards are divided into limit values, target values and long-term targets.
In the case if pollution level exceeds limit values, target values and long-term targets, local governments in the area of which these exceeds occur in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment elaborate air quality improvement action program and implement it complying with the terms set up in the program.
In the Cabinet Regulations on air quality, air quality standards are set up for 22 substances. Also terms for achieving these air quality standards are specified. Latvian Environmental, Geological and Meteorological Agency (LEGMA) once in three years perform air quality assessment for air polluting substances and monitoring of them.
Not rarer than once in three years LEGMA collect and prepare information about air quality assessment in Latvia. Besides annually it prepares air quality assessment in agglomerations and areas in which air pollution exceeds air quality standards.
Starting with 2010 for sulphur dioxide, nitric oxide, volatile organic compounds and ammonium maximal permissible emission into the air is established and that is regulated by the Cabinet Regulations on total maximal permissible emission into the air in state. In 2004 with Cabinet Order was approved Action program on Reduction of State Total Emission into Air. Action program summarizes information about required strategy and tactics for achievement of air quality improvement target, taking into account tendencies of national economy development. This Action program currently is being revised and will be updated in the beginning of 2007.
To prevent nuisance by smell and thus guarantee feeling of comfort to inhabitants, Cabinet of Ministers in 2004 adopted Regulations on methods for determination of smell caused by polluting activity as well as procedure in which smell diffusion is prevented. Requirements of Regulations aim at prevention and reduction of smell diffusing activities. Smell assessment methods also are established in these Regulations.
Air protection policy in European Community
In European Community (EC) Air quality environmental policy is established by Community Sixth Environment Action Program (2001) and regulated by five European Council and Parliament Directives. These air quality Directives are implemented in all 25 European Union (EU) member states according to implementation time graphs defined in the Directives.
According to Sixth Environment Action Program and orientation towards simpler legislation of European Community in September 2005 European Commission announced Thematic Strategy on air pollution. In this Strategy current situation in air quality is assessed, strategic target until 2020 are defined as well as action and means for achieving them. Preparation of Thematic Strategy was a hard work, additionally environmental impact assessment was performed and other documents elaborated (ca. 2000 pages in total) on which targets, actions and suggested air quality standards of strategy project are grounded. Additional information about these documents is available on Internet website:
www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/cafe/general/keydocs.htm
Thematic Strategy points out that in EC negative impact of air pollution (both local and transboundary) to human health and environment still is present. Most concern is caused by pollution with air-ground ozone and solid particles (small fraction PM2,5) that cause health problems from small impact to respiratory system to premature death. Ecosystems are harmed by impact of acidifying substances (sulphur dioxide, nitric oxide and ammonium) causing loss to flora and fauna, but excess of nutritive substances (ammonium and nitrogen) cause eutrophication. Increased concentration of air-ground ozone cause physical damages of agricultural cultures, forests and plants, decreases speed and productivity of growth.
Although compared to 1990 a significant reduction of polluting substances emission into atmosphere for sulphur dioxide, nitric oxide and volatile organic compounds is achieved, in European Community still 55% of ecosystems suffer from eutrophication. Even if implementing all EU legislation also after 2020 environmental problems from air pollution will be present.
Current air pollution impacts human health. For example, pollution with small solid particles (PM2,5) reduces average statistic human lifetime for 8 months (in total 3,6 millions lifetime years in European Community). By implementing only enforced EU legislation human lifetime loss also after 2020 will make up 5,5 months (in total 2,5 millions lifetime years in European Community). It has been estimated that due to air-ground ozone impact in EC each year ca. 21 000 premature death cases are possible. In financial way this health damaging impact will cause loss of 189-609 milliards EUR a year.
Compared to emissions into the air of 2000, Thematic Strategy proposes until 2020 reduce: concentrations of small solid particles for 75%, air-ground ozone concentration for 60%, acidification and eutrophication for 55% that in its turn will need reduction of sulphur dioxide emission for 82%, nitric oxide emissions for 60%, ammonium emissions for 27%, volatile organic compounds amissions for 51% and primary small solid particle emissions PM2,5 for 59%.
To achieve these targets efficiency of benefits and expanses will be taken into consideration. Implementation of Strategy in financial view will make benefit of ca. 42 milliards EUR a year regarding human health, but implementation of it will take ca. 7,1 milliard EUR a year (ca. 0,5% from European Community GDP proposed in 2020). For implementation of Thematic Strategy it is planned to use EU structural funds, international cooperation. Also policy implementation mechanism improvement will be needed as well as choice of correct political means cluster.
However completely prevent exceeds of critical loads and levels in the framework of this Strategy will not be possible even applying all technically available means because during this period of time available technologies will not be developed enough to sufficiently reduce pollution at the same time providing further development of national economics.
Part of Thematic Strategy is proposed to be implemented revising current EU legislation, updating them and including higher standards and new air quality standards for small solid particles PM2,5. New legislation will be approved for emission norms from new vehicles, small and medium burning equipment (with inputted heating power from 5 – 50 MW), ships and airplanes.
Currently in European Council and Parliament draft Directive on air quality and cleaner air in Europe is being revised. In this Directive all requirements of foregone Directives and new air quality norms form small solid particles PM2,5 are included. It is expected that Directive will be enforced in the beginning of 2007. Also requirements of this Directive will have to be adapted to legislation of Latvia during 2007-2008.
Implementation of EU air quality policy in Latvia
Latvia do not have significant problems in implementation of current EU legislation but exceeds of air quality norms are observed for nitric oxide and solid particles PM10 that requires action from state and local governments for air quality improvement in the biggest cities of Latvia.
It follows from documents grounding Thematic Strategy that in 2000 in Latvia in 54% of water courses (85-90% in West part, 10-30% the rest of area of Latvia) nitrogen deposition is exceeded above critical level. It is expected that after implementation of Thematic Strategy nitrogen deposition above critical level will be 13-15% (10-30% in the West part, 0-5% in the rest of area of Latvia).
Although regarding average statistic human lifespan, in 2000 in Latvia due to air pollution (from the impact of small solid particles PM2,5 and air-grounded ozone pollution) it was smaller than normal for 4-6 months (without presence of such pollution).After implementation of Thematic Strategy it will be in average 2 months smaller than normal.
Implementing Thematic Strategy, in Latvia until 2020 will have to reduce nitric oxide emissions for 27%, sulphur dioxide emissions for 25%, volatile organic compounds emissions for 15% and primary solid particles emissions for 17% compared to 2000.
Annual benefits in Latvia in human health protection, implementing Thematic Strategy, will be 19-35 million EUR per year, but expenses will be ca. 13-17 millions EUR a year.
