Goal 15 - Life on land

Data on the quantity of retained and neutralised gaseous and particulate pollutants describe the volume of emissions reduced by air pollution abatement equipment installed in plants classified as significant sources of air pollution. The efficiency of such equipment, expressed as the degree of pollutant reduction, is a characteristic parameter indicating the percentage of the total amount of a given pollutant entering the equipment that is retained by it.

The actual efficiency of the air pollution abatement equipment is equal to or lower than the expected operational efficiency, as it reflects operating conditions (e.g. the chemical composition of the flowing dust and gases, particle size distribution of dust, gas flow rate, temperature, humidity and pressure of the gas, among others), as well as its operational availability.

Plants classified as significant sources of air pollution are referred to as point sources of pollutant emissions, and include organisational units identified by the then Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources on the basis of the level of fees paid in 1986 for annual emissions of air pollutants, according to the rates specified in the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 13 January 1986 on fees for economic use of the environment and its modification (Journal of Laws No. 7, item 40, as amended). The resulting population of reporting units (plants) is maintained on an annual basis, which ensures continuity and comparability of survey results. This population may be modified only in exceptional cases, for example by adding newly established units or expanded units exceeding defined emission thresholds.