The rise in cars on the road and increased freight transportation have offset any positive impact in a country that is fighting stricter emission norms as greenhouse gas emissions have tripled since the 1990s, according to new data from the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute.
New data from Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute shows that road transportation’s share in greenhouse gas emissions has tripled since the 1990s, Denník N reports. It is the only sector whose emissions are consistently on the rise.
According to data, diesel cars emit four times more greenhouse gas emissions than their gasoline counterparts. Moreover, personal and commercial diesel vehicles contribute more to greenhouse gas emissions than steel, cement, or chemical production in Slovakia.
“High emissions from road transport are mainly caused by the use of diesel cars, but also heavy goods vehicles,” explains Ján Horváth, an analyst at the Institute.
Additionally, road transportation in the country produces the highest level of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions compared to other sectors. NOx emissions contribute to health issues and environmental damage, including respiratory problems, acid rain, and urban smog. Passenger cars are the largest contributors to NOx emissions, responsible for approximately 17% of the total.
While the EU has proposed stricter emission standards, Slovakia is among the countries that are opposing such measures. It argues that the new Euro 7 standards, aimed at reducing NOx emissions, would significantly increase the cost of vehicles.
In mid-May, the National Council of Slovakia passed a resolution urging the government to oppose any regulation that would disadvantage the use of combustion engines.
The Environmental Ministry ended up voting for the EU’s combustion engine ban, arguing that the resolution’s instructions said to follow Germany’s lead, and Berlin ended up supporting the measure after it secured derogations for synthetic fuels.
(Barbara Zmušková | EURACTIV.sk)
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