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Devolved Governments Air Pollutant Emissions Inventories
13 January 2026
The air pollutant emissions inventories for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland (collectively England and the Devolved Governments, DGs) are published on an annual basis. The latest publication (September 2025) covers the period 2005 to 2023, for the pollutants ammonia, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, particulate matter less than 10 micrometres (PM10) and less than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5), sulphur dioxide, and lead. In addition, experimental inventory statistics are presented for emissions of benzo[a]pyrene, dioxins and furans, and mercury.
The England and DG inventories are calculated by disaggregating the UK emission totals. The emission estimates for each pollutant are presented in Nomenclature for Reporting (NFR) format to be consistent with the UK inventory submissions to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which follow international inventory reporting guidelines. Emission estimates at the national level are made using direct emission measurements (e.g. for industrial point sources) or by combining activity data with a mixture of country-specific and default emission factors (EMEP/EEA Guidebook, 2023). The inventories present emissions on a by source basis, i.e. emissions are allocated to the source sector in which they occur.
These inventories are compiled, by Aether, on behalf of the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) for Northern Ireland. Provision of DG-level datasets and subsequent identification of key sources at more regional and local levels is crucial for the prioritisation of local action and to highlight the potential impacts of specific policies and measures. The time series of air pollutant emissions provides an insight into the effects of environmental policies and may help identify where policies could be pursued to achieve both Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas policy goals.
The data and accompanying report can be found here: https://naei.energysecurity.gov.uk/air-pollutants/devolved-government-air-quality-emissions
The next publication is expected to be October 2026.
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