Slovakia’s Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory: New data confirms steady long-term progress

Slovakia has taken another important step in air quality protection. In mid-February 2026, the Department of Emissions and Biofuels submitted a complete National Emission Inventory of air pollutants for the years 1990 to 2024 to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the European Commission (EC). This is a regular assessment that highlights the country’s progress in reducing air pollution and meeting its international commitments.

The National Emission Inventory of the Slovak Republic confirms a long-term downward trend in air pollutant emissions, which continued between 2023 and 2024. Compared to 1990, emissions of all major groups of substances have decreased by approximately 60% to 98%, with year-on-year changes confirming further improvements across most monitored indicators.

The most significant progress was achieved in the energy and industrial sectors, where modern technologies and emission limits have led to a fundamental reductions in pollution. Nitrogen oxide emissions, primarily related to fuel combustion, have decreased by more than half since 1990.

Even more striking progress occurred with sulphur emissions, which decreased by approximately 93%. This has a direct positive impact on air quality and limits the acid rain that damages forests and ecosystems.

Significant emission reductions also occurred in transport due to newer vehicles and cleaner technologies. Decreases were also recorded for other pollutants, including organic compounds, ammonia, and carbon monoxide. For ammonia, the agricultural sector plays a key role, where improved manure and feed management contributed to lower emissions. On the other hand, data shows that households remain a significant source of certain substances, mainly due to local household heating.

From a public health perspective, the decline in particulate matter is particularly important—especially fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), which is among the most hazardous components of air pollution. Since 1990, its emissions have decreased by more than 80%, with the decline continuing in recent years. A similarly positive trend was confirmed for heavy metals (such as lead, cadmium, or mercury) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including dioxins and furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Slovakia Meets International Commitments

Importantly, Slovakia currently meets its international obligations under Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants (NECD) and the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) for the 2020–2030 period. Overall results show that air quality in the country is improving in the long term, although room for further measures remains in certain areas.