Integrated Assessment of Policies for Reducing Health Impacts Caused by Air Pollution

Abstract

Air pollution in the EU is still causing considerable health impacts, thus further reduction of air pollution is necessary. However, air pollution control policies are often expensive and have side effects, especially by increasing or decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and thus influencing climate change. An integrated assessment of air pollution control policies thus has to take the effects on climate change into account and furthermore has to ensure, that the most efficient policy, i.e. the bundle of measures with the highest net benefit is chosen. Here, a methodology for carrying out an integrated assessment of air pollution control policies, the impact pathway approach, is described. The methodology includes the estimation of utility losses and is able to assess as well technical measures (that change emission factors, e.g. by using improved filters) as non-technical measures (e.g. changes in behaviour/activities, e.g. using public transport after an increase in fuel taxes). The method is then applied for identifying the most effective and efficient measures for reducing air pollution from transport activities in Europe. The results show, that the most efficient transport policies for improving air quality and protecting climate are more use of bicycles and e-bikes, better traffic management, rail replacing air transport, shore based electricity and tighter emission limits for ships, tighter EURO limits (EURO 7), low emission zones in cities (≥EURO V), improved tyres, brake pads and road cover and promotion of CNG and electric drive.