COST - EFFECfIVENESS ANALYSIS OF AIR - POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES

We describe a strategy for dealing with the challenges of air pollution and climate change capable of adaptation to improved scientific knowledge in the future. The analytical framework for identifying efficient control strategies is described and selected results of cost-effective methods to control SO:z, NO. and CO2 emissions are discussed. 1. INTRODUCflON The eighties saw the emergence of the environmental challenge and a growing concern about man's potential to destroy the natural environment through his own activities. The scope of concerns is broad and includes air pollution, water quality, waste disposal, the use of toxic substances, land use, and siting issues. In recent years, the potential altering of the earth's climate has gained speci"j attention. As far as air pollution and climate change are concerned, the conversion and use of energy is the single most important anthropogenic source of gaseous pollutants and greenhouse gases. The combustion of fossil fuel supplying nearly 90% of the world's energy needs is the main source of S02 and NO. emissions contributing to the acidification of soil and lakes, to forest, crop and material damages, and to humanhealth deterioration. In addition, fossil-fuel combustion is the principal source of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, which are believed to be responsible for about half of the man-made greenhouse effect. Another of the energy-related greenhouse gases is methane, which accounts for about 19% of this effect. As shown in Table 1, energy-related emissions of air pollutants within the European Community (Eq are in the range of 13 Mtons of S02 and 10 Mtons of NO •. Power generation is the main contributor to S02 emissions and about half of the NO. emissions stem from the transport sector. The S02 and NO. emissions in member countries of the EC follow different trends. With the introduction of SOz-control techniques, the limitation of the sulphur content in fuels and the shift to nuclear power, SOz emissions in the EC as a whole have been decreasing over the last ten years, while NO. emissions have remained nearly constant. With a total amount of 2600 Mtons of COl> the EC is responsible for about 13% of global CO2 emissions. It is important to note that due to differences in the economic situation, the primary energy mix, and the introduction of pollutant-control measures, the per capita emissions of SOl> NO. and COz vary considerably among member countries of the Ee. 1215 EGY 16:10-A 1216 ALFRED V06 and GOlnEl SoiMID Table 1. Energy-related emissions in the EC. Mtons/a 1986 1990 SOz 13.40 12.23 NO. 9.56 10.38 COz 256