challenging issue. Air pollutants, such as SO 2 and NO x , are released in various
industrial processes. These form acid rain and have significant impacts on human
health. As both these air pollutants, as well as carbon emissions, derive from fossil
fuel consumption, carbon abatement strategies usually achieve two aims simultaneously: carbon emissions are reduced and air pollutants are also alleviated. In order
to measure the degree of alleviation of SO 2 and NO x emissions under different
abatement strategies, we use the G-CEEP model to evaluate the effects of each
abatement strategy on SO 2 and NO x emissions in China, Japan, and Korea.
Efforts to reduce CO 2 emissions will also reduce SO 2 and NO x . The emission
sources are fossil fuels, although emission volumes from consuming one unit of heat
value vary for different fuels. SO 2 usually comes from consumption of a variety of
coal products, as both energy and non-energy sources, including derived coal and
coke. The consumption of oil products is the second major source of SO 2 emissions.
A small amount of SO 2 comes from the consumption of natural gas and biomass.
NO x mainly comes from the consumption of oil products, especially gasoline and
other light fractions of oil, medium distillates (diesel, light fuel oil), and heavy fuel
oil. The consumption of coal and natural gas releases a small amount of NO x , though
this is non-negligible if a large volume of energy is consumed, such as in China
where coal is the major energy source.
Reducing SO 2 and NO x emissions usually relies on abatement technologies or
related environmental policies. Nurrohim and Sakugawa (2004) discussed the possible impacts of greenhouse gas abatement measures on NO x and SO 2 emissions
from manufacturing industries in Hiroshima Prefecture. Their predictions showed
that NO x and SO 2 emissions might decrease from 18.9 and 21.5 kt in 1990 to 15.1
and 14.2 kt in 2010, respectively, if Japanese energy policy and targets in voluntary
action plans were successfully implemented. Chang et al. (2006) investigated the
impact of strengthening vehicle emission regulations on economic activities, focusing on the economic impact of reducing sulfur content in the diesel fuel quality
standard. Graus and Worrell (2007) give an overview of the effects of SO 2 and NO x
pollution control on the energy efficiency of fossil-fired power generation in several
countries, distinguishing national levels of desulfurization and denitrification. Lu
et al. (2010) estimated annual SO 2 emissions in China after 2000 using a technologybased method, showing that the trend in estimated SO 2 emissions in China is
consistent with trends in SO 2 concentration and the pH and frequency of acid rain
in China, as well as with increasing trends in background SO 2 and sulfate concentration in East Asia. We will discuss the possible impacts of CO 2 abatement
measures on SO 2 and NO x emissions. The CO 2 abatement targets here use the
NDC reduction proposals for 2030 in the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, we discuss
the co-benefit effects of carbon taxes on SO 2 and NO x emissions, respectively, in
order to construct marginal abatement cost curves for SO 2 and NO x emissions.
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X. Su and W. Zhou
industrial processes. These form acid rain and have significant impacts on human
health. As both these air pollutants, as well as carbon emissions, derive from fossil
fuel consumption, carbon abatement strategies usually achieve two aims simultaneously: carbon emissions are reduced and air pollutants are also alleviated. In order
to measure the degree of alleviation of SO 2 and NO x emissions under different
abatement strategies, we use the G-CEEP model to evaluate the effects of each
abatement strategy on SO 2 and NO x emissions in China, Japan, and Korea.
Efforts to reduce CO 2 emissions will also reduce SO 2 and NO x . The emission
sources are fossil fuels, although emission volumes from consuming one unit of heat
value vary for different fuels. SO 2 usually comes from consumption of a variety of
coal products, as both energy and non-energy sources, including derived coal and
coke. The consumption of oil products is the second major source of SO 2 emissions.
A small amount of SO 2 comes from the consumption of natural gas and biomass.
NO x mainly comes from the consumption of oil products, especially gasoline and
other light fractions of oil, medium distillates (diesel, light fuel oil), and heavy fuel
oil. The consumption of coal and natural gas releases a small amount of NO x , though
this is non-negligible if a large volume of energy is consumed, such as in China
where coal is the major energy source.
Reducing SO 2 and NO x emissions usually relies on abatement technologies or
related environmental policies. Nurrohim and Sakugawa (2004) discussed the possible impacts of greenhouse gas abatement measures on NO x and SO 2 emissions
from manufacturing industries in Hiroshima Prefecture. Their predictions showed
that NO x and SO 2 emissions might decrease from 18.9 and 21.5 kt in 1990 to 15.1
and 14.2 kt in 2010, respectively, if Japanese energy policy and targets in voluntary
action plans were successfully implemented. Chang et al. (2006) investigated the
impact of strengthening vehicle emission regulations on economic activities, focusing on the economic impact of reducing sulfur content in the diesel fuel quality
standard. Graus and Worrell (2007) give an overview of the effects of SO 2 and NO x
pollution control on the energy efficiency of fossil-fired power generation in several
countries, distinguishing national levels of desulfurization and denitrification. Lu
et al. (2010) estimated annual SO 2 emissions in China after 2000 using a technologybased method, showing that the trend in estimated SO 2 emissions in China is
consistent with trends in SO 2 concentration and the pH and frequency of acid rain
in China, as well as with increasing trends in background SO 2 and sulfate concentration in East Asia. We will discuss the possible impacts of CO 2 abatement
measures on SO 2 and NO x emissions. The CO 2 abatement targets here use the
NDC reduction proposals for 2030 in the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, we discuss
the co-benefit effects of carbon taxes on SO 2 and NO x emissions, respectively, in
order to construct marginal abatement cost curves for SO 2 and NO x emissions.
96
X. Su and W. Zhou