The generation of emissions from human activity impacts air quality and the climate. This section presents data on the magnitude and evolution of air emissions. Emissions are measured by the emissions accounts, which take into account all economic activity, and emissions inventories, which additionally take into account the possibly negative emission from the change in the use of land, e.g. through reforestation.
The emissions of greenhouse gases are primarily responsible for climate change. The main greenhouse gases are Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Sulphur Hexafluoride, and Perfluorocarbones. The next graph presents the emissions of greenhouse gases in thousand tonnes of equivalent CO2, as measured by emissions inventories (since 1990) and emissions accounts (since 2008).
Human activity is responsible for the emission of other (non-greenhouse) gases that affect the environment. The next graph presents the emissions of acidifying gases (that cause acid rain), such as Sulphur Oxides, Nitrogen Oxides, and Ammonia in thousand tonnes of equivalent Sulphur Dioxide (SO2).
The next graph presents the emissions of Ozone Precursors, such as Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide, Methane and Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOC). The emissions are measured in thousand tonnes of equivalent NMVOC.
The next graph presents the emissions of particulate matter.
The next graph presents the sources of air emissions in CO2 equivalent thousand tonnes, taking into account the potentially negative emissions from changes in land use (from emission inventories).
The next graph presents the emissions of gases from each sector of economic activity (from the emissions accounts).
The next graph presents the greenhouse emission intensity of each sector of economic activity. Intensity is defined as the amount of emissions that a sector generates per euro of value added.
The next graph presents the average CO2 emissions generated by a new passenger car per kilometer travelled.
The next graph presents the concentrations of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in Athens.