Croatia reduces air polluting emissions by up to 98% – ministry

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition has published a report on the air pollutant emissions inventory for 2026, covering the period from 1990 to 2024.

The document was produced in line with Croatia’s obligations under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) and the European Union’s National Emission Reduction Commitments Directive (NECD) 2016/2284.

It is a key document for monitoring progress in air pollution reduction and planning new measures.

Stricter targets will be taking effect from 2030

The latest data confirm a long-term and significant decline in emissions of most pollutants from the levels registered in 1990 and 2005, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition. However, as it pointed out, they highlight sectors where achieving stricter targets will be challenging by 2030.

The ministry said the stricter targets coming into force from 2030 on would open a new period of challenges. The greatest risks are agriculture (NH3), household solid fuel heating (PM2.5), and road transport (NOx and non-methane volatile organic compounds – NMVOCs).

Greatest progress made with sulfur dioxide

The greatest progress was achieved with sulfur dioxide (SO2), the report reads. In 2024, emissions amounted to 4.6 kilotons, representing a 92% reduction from 2005, or more than 97% from 1990. It is a result of lowering sulfur content in fuels, the transition to natural gas, and the installation of desulfurization systems in power plants, according to the ministry.

Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions amounted to 43.2 kilotons in 2024, which is 43% less than in 2005. The reduction is a result of the introduction of three-way catalytic converters, the gradual tightening of European emission standards (Euro 4, Euro 5, and Euro 6), and the renewal of the vehicle fleet, the ministry said.

However, road transport remains the largest single source of NOx emissions. The ministry considers that achieving the 57% reduction target from 2030 will be a challenge.

Ammonia emissions reduced by 38%

The report showed that for non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), emissions in 2024 amounted to 44.9 kilotons, a reduction of 51% compared to 2005.

Regulation in the solvents sector, industrial processes, and fuel storage significantly contributed to this decline.

Nevertheless, reductions from 2030 onwards will require stricter control of smaller and diffuse sources, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, and emissions related to traffic and fuel evaporation, the document reads.

Ammonia (NH3) emissions in 2024 were 26 kilotons, 38% less than in 2005. More than 90% of emissions originate from agriculture, primarily from livestock farming and the use of manure and mineral fertilizers. The obligation for a 25% reduction from 2030 onwards will require additional efforts, the report pointed out.

Slower pace of reduction for PM emissions

Emissions of particulate matter of the PM2.5 type amounted to 24.2 kilotons in 2024. It is 44% less than in 2005. However, the report underscored that the pace of reduction is slower than that of SO2 or NMVOCs.

The combustion of wood biomass in households remains the main source, while additional contributions come from road transport and construction activities.

The obligation for a 55% reduction from 2030 onwards represents a serious challenge unless the replacement of old stoves and the transition to cleaner heating systems are accelerated, the ministry stressed.

In addition to classic pollutants, the report records significant reductions in heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. Lead emissions have decreased by 98%, largely due to the ban on lead in gasoline. Mercury has been reduced by 76%, and cadmium by 36%.

Dioxin and furan emissions have been reduced by nearly 74%, while hexachlorobenzene has decreased by more than 95%, mainly due to the ban on certain pesticides and the cessation of specific industrial processes, the report reads.

The long-term downward trend is primarily the result of regulatory measures, technological progress, and alignment with European standards, according to the ministry.