What do we see?
Between 2000 and 2021, potential acifiying emissions in the agricultural sector of the Flemish Region fell from 3.9 to 2.6 billion acid equivalents, a decrease of 34%. Most of this was realised before 2008, attributable to the reduction in livestock in the early years 2000 to 2007. The later years show a slight decrease, mainly from ammonia. Agriculture still remains the main source of potential acidifying emissions with a 48% share. Ammonia is the main source of acidifying emissions in the agricultural sector. This emission comes mainly from cattle breeding, with a 91% share.
What’s the aim?
In a circular economy, we want to keep the material cycle closed as much as possible to reduce the need for new materials and avoid environmental damage from unwanted leakage. Emissions such as ammonia (NH3), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) cause environmental acidification and affect natural ecosystems.
What does this indicator measure?
This indicator shows the amount of potential acidifying emissions from the agricultural sector. The emissions are quantified according to the type of acidifying emission and its source. The potential impact of these emissions is calculated by converting the acidification rate of each pollutant to an acid equivalent (Zeq).
VMM
