Figure 18 Estimated
exceedance of critical loads
(applied to the sensitivity
map — Figure 8) by 2050
sulfur deposition estimates
minus neutralizing base
cation deposition derived
from soil dust. (Exceedance
scale in meq m\ yr\: low
0—50; medium 50—100;
high 9100)
4 Policy Development for Air Pollution Abatement
National and Regional Action
The smogs in Europe and North America in the 1950s triggered the development
of environmental policies and measures to combat air pollution issues. In recent
years, air pollution abatement strategies and environmental laws and institutions
have developed in most countries and in regions such as the area covered by the
UN Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) and the European Union.
Command and control policy, via direct regulation, has been the most prominent
policy instrument. Traditionally, regulation is carried out by sector but there is a
growing realization that an integrated approach is required. Lack of manpower,
the methods of implementation and control, and the level of institutional
co-ordination and policy integration can hamper this approach. This is
particularly true of efforts to regulate air pollution in developing countries.
In recent years, there has been a shift away from regulation and an increased
use of economic instruments, tax and subsidy reform, reliance on voluntary
action by the private sector, accompanied by more public and NGO participation
(UNEP, 2000). This has resulted in more emphasis on attempts to move away
from end-of-pipe measures to preventive measures including a lowering of the
intensity of energy use by increases in energy-use efficiency and a switch away
from non-renewable fossil fuels to renewable energy resources. These developments
are fuelled by the increasing complexity of environmental regulation and high
control costs as well as demands from the private sector for more flexibility,
self-regulation and cost-effectiveness.
International Action
In the last two decades the development of policy on air pollution issues has been
greatly assisted by Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). MEAs
have proven to be a powerful tool for tackling air pollution problems, especially
from a transboundary perspective (see below). Although most MEAs are
A Perspective on Global Air Pollution Problems
45
exceedance of critical loads
(applied to the sensitivity
map — Figure 8) by 2050
sulfur deposition estimates
minus neutralizing base
cation deposition derived
from soil dust. (Exceedance
scale in meq m\ yr\: low
0—50; medium 50—100;
high 9100)
4 Policy Development for Air Pollution Abatement
National and Regional Action
The smogs in Europe and North America in the 1950s triggered the development
of environmental policies and measures to combat air pollution issues. In recent
years, air pollution abatement strategies and environmental laws and institutions
have developed in most countries and in regions such as the area covered by the
UN Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) and the European Union.
Command and control policy, via direct regulation, has been the most prominent
policy instrument. Traditionally, regulation is carried out by sector but there is a
growing realization that an integrated approach is required. Lack of manpower,
the methods of implementation and control, and the level of institutional
co-ordination and policy integration can hamper this approach. This is
particularly true of efforts to regulate air pollution in developing countries.
In recent years, there has been a shift away from regulation and an increased
use of economic instruments, tax and subsidy reform, reliance on voluntary
action by the private sector, accompanied by more public and NGO participation
(UNEP, 2000). This has resulted in more emphasis on attempts to move away
from end-of-pipe measures to preventive measures including a lowering of the
intensity of energy use by increases in energy-use efficiency and a switch away
from non-renewable fossil fuels to renewable energy resources. These developments
are fuelled by the increasing complexity of environmental regulation and high
control costs as well as demands from the private sector for more flexibility,
self-regulation and cost-effectiveness.
International Action
In the last two decades the development of policy on air pollution issues has been
greatly assisted by Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). MEAs
have proven to be a powerful tool for tackling air pollution problems, especially
from a transboundary perspective (see below). Although most MEAs are
A Perspective on Global Air Pollution Problems
45