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The Dutch Policy in Reducing VOC Emissions
  • Date2016-06-22 00:00
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The Dutch Policy in Reducing VOC Emissions
 
Lee Suk-Yeoung & Chandradath Madho
 
Introduction
 
All nations of the world contribute to human-induced emissions of VOC’s. However, the wealthier nations tend to expend large amounts of energy and transport services. This culminates in high volumes of VOC emissions which pose health risks to humans who may inhale noxious fumes. Also, VOC emissions enhance the concentration of ozone in the earth’s lower atmosphere. Hence, a few developed nations, like The Netherlands have conscientiously pursued the agenda of a reduction in their VOC emission rates, long before the Kyoto Protocol-1997 and the Rio Earth Summit-1992.
 
 
Dutch VOC-Reduction Policy
 
The VOC-reduction policy in The Netherlands has been two-fold (Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment 2016). Firstly, there has been a concerted effort by the State to improve local air quality via reduced ozone formations and diminished benzene emissions The second strategy has involved limiting the carbon footprint in the atmosphere, through the National Emission Ceiling criteria. The latter approach is less based upon voluntarism and more etched in the imposition of sanctions upon specifically targeted industries. Indeed, the emission ceiling has been executed in an incremental manner since the 1980’s by integrating several stakeholders.
 
The emission ceiling was imposed from as early as 1980 when the KWS2000 project policy was conceived, and came into effect from 1988 (Sluijs, V. Risbey,J. and Ravetz, J.2005). This plan ambitiously sought to achieve by 2001, a 50% decrease in the 1981 volume of VOCs. In particular, paint coatings were considered a major source of pollution. Rigid standards were therefore implemented to diminish the risk of paint-based emissions. It must be appreciated that the State’s plan was also designed in a way that incorporated the various 40 industrial sectors that were notorious for polluting. These sectors were identified as being part of the following industries: energy, road transport and industrial processing. Genuine attempts were made by industrialists in oil refineries and in the chemical sector to check their rate of VOC emissions.
 
Subsequent to the year 2000 a more aggressive policy was pursued. The environmental goal was revised via the National Non-Methane Reduction Plan. This plan sought to procure an 80% reduction in VOC rates in 2010, relative to the volume of VOC emissions generated in 1980. The chartered ceiling of emissions was set at 185 CG.
 
It was not long after 2010 that the Gothenburg Proposal was revised in May 2012. This once again propelled the State to re-define its target as an 8% reduction in VOC emissions, relative to the emission volumes of 2005. The emission ceiling was therefore set at 158 CG.  Interestingly, the Gothenburg Protocol was drafted in 1999 as an EU directive within a larger framework on the Convention on Long Range Trans-boundary Air Pollution which seeks to enhance aspects of environmental health. The fact that the Dutch Government conforms to this protocol indicates that Netherlands is drawn into an intricate regional agreement that obligates its employers and citizens to act in a pro-environmental manner. For example, Dutch companies are mandated by EU directives to comply with VOC-reducing techniques in order to get their operating licenses to conduct business. These companies are also monitored on an annual basis, to meet stringent environmental standards. Failure to meet these criteria could result in the imposition of large fines.
 
Whilst the national emission ceilings introduced in different decades generated environmental compliance, other legal instruments were given salience by the State. According to VROM (2002: 20): “Dutch Emission Guidelines, orders in Council pursuant to Section 8.40 of the Environmental Management Act for certain industrial sectors, environmental permit issues by Provinces  and municipalities, emission standards for transport traffic” have all been useful in reducing air pollution.
 
The Dutch have sought to alleviate VOC emissions via an ongoing united approach that encompasses various stakeholders: manufacturing industries, workplace settings, households, and the transport sector. For example, all Dutch companies are mandated to register for specific permits as part of an Activities Decree. If companies are deemed to be involved in medium or high levels of combustion, they are expected to be labelled as Type B and Type C companies respectively. Provision of information to the State about levels of combustion of fossil fuels has been mandatory, and crucial for the monitoring of emissions. This system has been in place since 1992.
 
Meanwhile, households and companies can also counter possibilities of VOC emissions by restricting their usage of VOCs. This has been based on the Dutch ratification of the EU VOC Product Directive. The most significant example of the EU product Directive is based on the EU Paints Directive of 2004. This dictate obligates paint manufacturers to clearly label their paint solvents in terms of the lower and upper levels of acceptable VOC percentage within the paint solvent and also, the percentage of VOC content contained. Through product labelling, it is envisioned that consumers may make an informed choice about regulating the VOC emissions.
 
Dutch and EU products are being manufactured to reduce their likelihood of becoming volatile. Whilst this a notable achievement, it is tough to impose sanctions on non-EU merchandise. Hence, the general public is expected to be careful about making purchases of foreign products. This requires a level of environmental awareness by the Dutch public.
 
 
Outcomes of the Dutch VOC Policy
 
In the initial period of the 1980s to 1999 the KWS 2000 Project achieved a 50% reduction in VOC emission rates. This was especially laudable, since the start of this intervention preceded the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 and EU environmental legislation. Perhaps buoyed by the initial success, the VOC National Reduction Plan (excluding methane) in 2000 was more aggressively pursued. It therefore resulted in a 34% reduction in VOC emissions. In the current era of post- Gothenburg Protocol, the reduction target of 158 CG by 2020 is projected to be attained because of the State’s partnering with ships and oil-tank vessel companies.
 
The early decades of VOC-reduction did not warrant compliance from the shipping sector. Whilst the energy companies and manufacturing plants located on land-sites were being monitored, there was little attention placed on auditing the pollution rates of ships. This situation has now changed, as the logistic resources and personnel required for monitoring and evaluation of Dutch VOC emissions have improved. This highlights an evolution in the State’s capacity to mitigate against VOC-related pollution. This State’s capacity has been buffered by the commitment of the EU agenda to reduce VOC emissions.
 
With reference to Figure 1 shown below, Netherlands has managed to have lower emissions than rivalling manufacturing giants like Germany and United Kingdom. All three countries have experienced reductions in VOC emissions prior to the Gothenburg Protocol acceptance (CIAM 2007). This shows that genuine progress has been made by Netherlands and its EU trading rivals in reducing VOC emissions.
 
 
The Dutch Policy in Reducing VOC Emissions 1
[Source: The Center for Integrated Assessment (CIAM) 2007]
 
 
It may be the case that the reduction in VOC emissions is largely due to EU related policies that are generally directed at industrial compliance to air emission protocols. For example, the 2010 Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) 20110/75 states that the nation-states like The Netherlands must be ready to issue industrial permits in a manner that thoroughly checks on the general ability of a company to reduce environmental pollution. Although a permit is granted on a series of factors that includes the ability of a company to reduce its VOC emissions among other factors, there is no denying the IED has created pressure for industrial manufacturing plants to be more eco-friendly.  
 
In attributing the success of VOC reductions over the past three decades, Netherlands’ capacity to demand cooperation from private companies has been crucial.  These companies have voluntarily demonstrated sound corporate citizenship because they have accessed available technologies to reduce emission; an operational cost that is incurred by these companies. It may not be likely that developing countries or relatively poorer East-European EU nations enjoy similar institutional strengths to diminish VOC emissions.
 
Additionally in explaining the success of the Dutch model of VOC reduction it must be conceded that the State was not the sole actor dictating the policy. International Conventions like the Kyoto Protocol and the Copenhagen Climate Change Protocol may have applied subtle forms of normative, global pressure, in order to locate VOC reduction within the framework of sustainable development. This is evidenced in Netherlands’ reduction in biofuel (gasoline and diesel) consumption, which may showcase that Dutch vehicle owners are becoming more environmentally aware of the usage of bioethanol and biodiesel. As the Dutch use intra-city trams, inter-city trains and cycling as modes of transport, it is not surprising that the Dutch are outperforming European rivals in bio-fuel cut-backs. In fact the Dutch are also performing better than large developed economies like the USA, and emerging market economies like Brazil because these countries have larger populations that leave a larger carbon footprint on the atmosphere. Although India seems to consume less biofuel than The Netherlands, this statistic may be inaccurate or unreliable, since measurement of consumption-statistics is often under-estimated in developing countries. However, there is need to be cautious about celebrating the Dutch reduction in VOC emissions, when compared to their economic competitors.
 
 
 
 
The Dutch Policy in Reducing VOC Emissions 2
[Source: Olivier et al 2015]
 
 
According to Figure 3 shown below, The Netherlands has been polluting the atmosphere with VOC emissions via the Energy Use & Transport Sector (28%) and the Road Transport Sector (16%). Even if motor-vehicle bio-fuel consumption (gasoline and diesel) is lower than other countries, the Dutch policies about reducing VOC emissions must not be relaxed. This means that Netherlands must continue to find solutions to downsize their carbon footprint.
 
 
 
The Dutch Policy in Reducing VOC Emissions 3
[Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2014]
 
 
Suggestions about further reductions in VOC emissions
 
The road- transport sector’s contribution to pollution could be further reduced if incentives were given to encourage a higher use of trams and trains by civilians. Such a plan will stimulate a reduced usage of cars. However, the public transport services are currently very expensive, and may repel citizens from reliance upon these services. The Government should therefore seek to provide a tax break as an incentive to public transport companies that reduce the fares for the use of trams and trains.
 
Another way of countering VOC emissions is to encourage the teaching of environmental studies within the public school’s curriculum. By infusing relevant life-long lessons about the sources of VOC compounds and their associated dangers, there is a great likelihood that children would transmit this information to families. Also, the Government needs to engage with the mass media and social media more proactively, to warn citizens and workplaces about the risks associated with using paint solvents in particular and also about the benzene content contained in cigarette smoke.
 
 
 
CONCLUSION
 
In general, The Netherlands has successfully reduced VOCs due to the confluence of EU regulations, international conventions and Dutch indigenous policy making.  This united agenda must continue if greater strides are to be made. In the aftermath of the 2015 Paris Climate Convention, The Netherlands should be encouraged to provide technical assistance to developing and rich nations, regarding monitoring and regulation of VOCs.
 
 
 
References
 
[1] British Broadcasting Company (BBC) (2015) ‘Netherlands ordered to cut greenhouse gas emissions’ 24 June 2015 Issue. Accessed 26 May 2016 < http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33253772>.
[2] Centre for Integrated Assessment Modelling (CIAM) (2007) Review of the Gothenburg Protocol. Bilthoven: Netherlands Environmental Agency. Accessed May 26 2016 <www.emep.int/publ/other/TFIAM_ReviewGothenburgProtocol.pdf>.
[3] European Commission (2010) The Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75/EU. Accessed 26 May 2016 < http://ec.europa.eu/environment/industry/stationary/ied/implementation.htm>.
[4] European Environment Agency (EEA) (2016) Air Pollution Fact Sheets 2014. Copenhagen: European Environmental Agency. Accessed 26 May 2016 <http://www.eea.europa.eu/downloads/d838969a52594e3d919437113e98b626/1458048360/air-pollution-country-fact-sheets-2014.pdf.>
[5] Goldstein, A., Galbally, I.E. (2007) ‘Known and Unexplored Organic Constituents in the Earth's Atmosphere’, Environmental Science & Technology: 41(5):1514？21. 17396635.
[6] Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2014) Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Accessed 26 May 2016 <https://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/tar/wg1/140.htm>.
[7] Keller, M., & Lerdau, M. (1999) ‘Isoprene emission from tropical forest canopy leaves’,Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 13(1): 19-29.
[8] Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke Ordening en Milieubeheer (VROM)(2002) Emission ceiling acidification and continental air pollution report of the Netherlands. Accessed  26 May 2015 <http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/air/pdf/200181_progr_nl.pdf>.
[9] Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, Government of the Netherlands (2016) Volatile Organic Compounds. Accessed on 24 May <http://rwsenvironment.eu/subjects/air/volatile-organic/>.
[10] Olivier, J. Jenssens-Maenhout, G., Muntean, M. and Peters J. (2015) Trends in Global Emissions. The Hague:  PBL Netherlands Environmental Agency. Accessed 26 May 2016<http://www.pbl.nl/sites/default/files/cms/publicaties/pbl-2015-trends-in-global-co2-emisions_2015-report_01803.pdf>.
[11] Van Der Sluijs, J. P., Risbey, J. S., & Ravetz, J (2005) ‘Uncertainty assessment of VOC emissions from paint in the Netherlands using the NUSAP system’, Environmental monitoring and assessment 105 (1-3): 229-259.
 
 
* Introduced here is an article written by one of KEI's environment correspondents. KEI invites students studying abroad and researchers working for foreign research institutes to send articles on various global environmental issues.