The European Pollutant Emission Register 4 th WHO

The European Pollutant Emission Register 4 th WHO Ministerial Conference Budapest 23 June 2004 Andreas Barkman European Environment Agency 1

Scope of the presentation • The European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER) • From EPER to E-PRTR: the future European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) • The role of PRTR information in an Environment and Health context 2

The European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER) • Launched 23 February 2004 by the European Commission and European Environment Agency • The main objectives of EPER are to: • enhance public access to and awareness of releases of 50 key pollutants from medium and large sized facilities in EU • provide a new data source for large point sources for development and improvement of indicators and assessments • provide the stepping-stone for EU to comply with the UNECE PRTR Protocol 3

What is EPER? A process Facility Country Collect Report CEC/EEA Compile Communicate Public 4 A product A start. . . • EPER Data base • EPER Web site • EPER no. 1 • E-PRTR 2007+

The EPER web site in short • www. eper. cec. eu. int • 17 countries (EU 15+NO+HU) • 50 pollutants (+description sheets on environmental and health risks) • 56 industrial activities • 9376 facilities • 2001 emission data • >100, 000 visits since the launch • >750, 000 web pages shown • >1, 600, 000 hits Ø …. . very high interest in EPER! 5

6

7

Key learnings - 1 st EPER reporting + + + 8 Legislation for data collection is in place Electronic tools for reporting are useful Few claims for confidentiality of data EPER data is representative and often covers a substantial share of total national emissions High interest in the EPER web site by many different users! – – Not all countries submitted complete EPER data QA/QC procedures on country level needs to be improved (e. g. harmonized methodologies and review) Additional metainformation increases usefulness Translation of web site could be useful

From EPER to E-PRTR • Proposal of E-PRTR regulation by the European Commission • Expansion in all dimensions to match the PRTR Protocol and existing EU legislation • Inclusion of releases to land transfers of waste • More pollutants (+36) • More industrial activities (+8) • Diffuse sources (optional) • More countries (EU 25+X) • Annual reporting (2007 data in 2009. . . ) 9

Role of PRTR information in an Environment and Health context • Improves knowledge and awareness (public, industry etc) • Facilitates dialogue • Adds value to risk assessment: • potential exposures PRTR info Georeferenced Transparent Comparable Consistent • improves spatial assessments and modelling • identification of hotspots, • helps contingency planning • Strengthens accountability and internal auditing • Improves quality of other information systems for environment and health issues 10

General conclusions • EPER/E-PRTR information already exists and will continue to be developed on pan-European scale • EPER/E-PRTR brings important information to help identify, assess and mitigate environmental and health risks 11

Thank you for your attention! andreas. barkman@eea. eu. int 12