USING AIR QUALITY MODELLING AND EMISSION PROJECTIONS AS A SUPPORT TO THE FIRST AIR POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAM UNDER NEC DIRECTIVE TARGETS FOR 2030

The new National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive was transposed into Portuguese law in 2018 creating the obligation to comply with the established NEC for Portugal and to develop a National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP). An analysis of emission trends and projections, and potential air quality and environmental impacts, was performed as a support to the NAPCP. Notwithstanding the emissions reduction trend, NEC noncompliance cases are still foreseen for SOx, NMVOC and PM2.5 under a 2030 current level legislation scenario. In terms of air quality impacts, a likely compliance with air quality objectives for health protection is expected for NO2 and PM2.5, with an increase of O3 levels. Based on the obtained results, it is possible to identify the need for further emission reduction measures and for the air quality simulation of other scenarios.