DSS
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
Ammonia (NH3) is a nitrogen-containing air pollutant that contributes to the acidification and eutrophication of sensitive ecosystems such as forests, nutrient-poor grasslands and bogs. It is converted into other nitrogen compounds – such as nitrate, which pollutes groundwater, or nitrous oxide, a particularly potent greenhouse gas. Ammonia also contributes to the formation of secondary particulate matter. It is produced mainly in livestock farming, in livestock housing, and during the storage and application of farmyard manure.
The indicator shows total ammonia emissions to the atmosphere in Switzerland.
poor
positive
Both at national and international level (Gothenburg Protocol), there are targets and obligations to reduce anthropogenic ammonia emissions. The Federal Council’s Air Pollution Control Strategy sets the target of reducing ammonia emissions by rougly 40% compared with 2005 levels (Air Pollution Control Strategy 2009).
Emission-reduction measures have been taken in agriculture, the main source of ammonia emissions. These measures focus primarily on improving the slurry storage and application. Additional measures target livestock feeding and housing. In transport, ammonia emissions have been significantly reduced through improved catalytic converter technology.
Thanks to these measures, ammonia emissions have fallen by around 15% since 2005, which is why the trend is assessed as positive. However, because this reduction does not yet meet the target value set out in the Federal Council’s Air Pollution Control Strategy, the status is assessed as poor.
Like other European countries, Switzerland has recorded a decline in ammonia emissions in recent years (see Emissions of the main air pollutants in Europe).
Total emissions are the sum of emissions from all source categories. Emissions from individual source categories are calculated as the product of the respective annual activity data and the corresponding pollutant-specific emission factors. Annual outputs are determined using surveys, modelling and calculations; emission factors are derived from measurements or taken from relevant databases.
| Targeted trend | Initial value | Final value | Variation in % | Observed trend | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decrease | 2005* | 2024* | -14.8% | Decrease | positive |
*Deviation from the predefined assessment method: The 2009 Federal Council’s Air Pollution Control Strategy sets out the target to be achieved in comparison with 2005, rather than an average of the baseline values.