Costs of Air Pollution Control

This book describes the development of cost effective abatement strategies aimed at controlling air pollutant emissions in Europe, particularly ground level ozone. The author gives a thorough evaluation of the results achieved for different environmental targets, and proposes a modelling scheme for emission targets required to achieve compliance with EU thresholds, and calculations reveal the need to review established ozone thresholds and emission limits.

This work derives strategies for developing useful EU policies aimed at the control of air pollutants in Europe, especially ground-level ozone. The author starts with the air-pollution status quo in the late 1990s, placing further impacts of photooxidant concentrations into perspective. Emission sources are then analysed in detail, and a likely scenario for a business-as-usual development in emissions is proposed. From the cost-benefit perspective, it is shown that a holistic, integrated evaluation of all air pollutants and their effects results in a full accounting that reflects synergies and hidden benefits. The modelling scheme identifies emission targets needed to achieve compliance with EU thresholds, and calculations reveal the need to review established ozone thresholds and emission limits, even after discounting the positive effects of including central and eastern European nations.