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This study seeks to investigate how natural resources rents impact environmental sustainability measured by CO2 emissions and PM2.5 air pollution in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) economies from 1995 to 2019. To enhance robust policy implications, natural resources are decomposed into disaggregated (coal, gas, oil, forest, and mineral rents) and aggregated (total natural resources rents) indicators. Besides, the intervening roles of affluence, urbanization, and green policies vectoring green technological innovation, green finance, green energy, and waste management within the theoretical underpinning of STIRPAT model are considered. The empirical verification is anchored on second-generation estimators entailing Common Correlated Effects Mean Group, Augmented Mean Group, and Panel Quantile Regression. Similarly, Fully Modified OLS is employed to gauge the country-specific effects amidst varying robustness analyses. The fallouts from the analyses reveal that natural resources rents inhibit the attainments of environmental sustainability in BRICS economies by positively driving CO2 emissions and PM2.5 air pollution. Conversely, green policies are observed to substantially drive environmental sustainability by mitigating both pollutants whereas affluence and urbanization escalate them. The distributional effects from Panel Quantile Regression and Fully Modified OLS corroborate the main findings divergently. Additionally, two channels of causality, including unidirectional and bidirectional nexuses, are apparent from the estimated models. Policy measures are suggested based on the empirical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Quantifying the impact of peer pressure on environmental improvements among local governments in China. • Investigating cities ' reaction to declining air quality rankings through regression discontinuity design. • Demonstrating the efficacy of political incentives in combating pollution and the catalytic effect of rankings on policy action. • Assessing the benefits resulting from air pollution reductions using an exposure response function. This paper estimates the impact of peer governmental pressure on air quality using a regression discontinuity design inherent in China's air quality ranking system. Because air quality rankings are important for political evaluations, local officials who witnessed a decline in air quality ranking are motivated to enforce more stringent environmental standards compared to their counterparts with increased rankings. By exploiting this regulatory discontinuity with monthly air quality ranking data from 2012 to 2020 of 169 cities, we find that cities experiencing a lower air quality ranking in the current month compared to the previous month exhibit a subsequent improvement in air quality during the following month, as evidenced by decreased pollutant concentrations. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that in cities where pollutant rankings decline more sharply, officials are less likely to encounter fewer promotion opportunities. Importantly, we observe that the discontinuity in individual pollutant concentrations is not solely influenced by their respective rankings but is also impacted by the overall A ir Q uality I ndex (AQI) ranking. Linking the reduction in air pollutants concentration with the economic benefits, a back-of-the-envelope calculation indicates the decrease in premature deaths due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases amounts to approximately 200 thousand, resulting in an associated economic saving of more than 600 billion Chinese yuan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Multi-Compartment Hg (mercury) Modeling and Analysis Project (MCHgMAP) is an international multi-model research initiative intended to simulate and analyze the geospatial distributions and temporal trends of environmental Hg to inform the effectiveness evaluations of two multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs): the Minamata Convention on Mercury (MC) and Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP). This MCHgMAP overview paper presents its science objectives, background and rationale, experimental design (multi-model ensemble (MME) architecture, inputs and evaluation data, simulations and reporting framework), and methodologies for the evaluation and analysis of simulated environmental Hg levels. The primary goals of the project are to facilitate detection and attribution of recent (observed) and future (projected) spatial patterns and temporal trends of global environmental Hg levels, and identification of key knowledge gaps in Hg science and modeling to improve future effectiveness evaluation cycles of the MEAs. The current advances and challenges of Hg models, emission inventories, and observational data are examined, and an optimized multi-model experimental design is introduced for addressing the key policy questions of the MEAs. A common set of emissions, environmental conditions, and observation datasets are proposed (where possible) to enhance the MME comparability. A novel harmonized simulation approach between atmospheric, land, oceanic and multi-media models is developed to account for the short- and long-term changes in secondary Hg exchanges and to achieve mechanistic consistency of Hg levels across environmental matrices. A comprehensive set of model experiments is developed and prioritized to ensure a systematic analysis and participation of a variety of models from the scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution now affects 92 percent of the global population and is responsible for one out of nine deaths, nearly two thirds of which occur in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Emerging work on the political ecology of air pollution examines how its noxious effects are unevenly distributed across social categories such as race and class. Geographers know much less about the social mechanisms through which air pollution and its risks and mitigation efforts are calculated, however. Situated within northern Thailand's haze crisis and its broader agrarian transitions, we employ ethnographic and geospatial methods to theorize air pollution as a boundary object. Throughout the region, uncertainty over the causes and constitution of air pollution and its flexible interpretation have driven the development of civil society sensor networks and the adoption of portable Air Quality Index monitors and hot spot locating apps. These increasingly widespread technologies not only democratize data but also play a growing role in shifting environmental narratives of seasonal air pollution. By homing in on the boundary work of air pollution, however, we argue that although new, more widely accessible modes of knowledge production can seemingly reduce uncertainty and shift environmental policy, they can also obscure the long-standing political-economic inequalities on which environmental problems are based. This article advances current debates at the nexus of political ecology and science and technology by demonstrating how particulate matter matters differently within and between social groups and the role of sociality in environmental change and the production of political space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat and electricity generation are major sources of air pollution in many large cities worldwide. In Siberian cities, the heat supply significantly contributes to air pollution, as coal remains the primary energy fuel in most of Asian Russia. Krasnoyarsk, the second-largest city in the macro-region by population, serves as a clear example of urban air pollution. In recent years, public authorities have implemented several measures to reduce pollutant emissions. These measures include modernizing thermal power stations, replacing inefficient small boiler houses, and converting residential heating to more environmentally friendly types of fuel. However, our analysis shows that these policies have not yet resulted in a significant transition away from using coal for heating. One of the primary reasons is that alternative fuels are unable to compete with coal in terms of price. The proposal suggests transitioning private households to pellet heating. Our goal is to evaluate the potential environmental and economic impacts of this measure. We estimate the necessary subsidy size for the successful implementation of both initiatives. In conclusion, converting households from coal to pellet heating can reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, and suspended particles by 0.2%, 8.5%, 4.4%, and 2.7%, respectively, of the total pollutant emissions in Krasnoyarsk. Furthermore, this conversion can provide economic benefits by supporting local pellet producers who heavily rely on export markets. If practically implemented, the proposed approach could solve one of the most significant development issues of one of the largest Russian cities within a few years, with only 2.5% of the annual city budget expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decades of research indicate that most Census‐measured U.S. racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately impacted by environmental disamenities, all else equal; the study of this is referred to as Environmental Justice (EJ) research. Yet both U.S. and world history show that another minoritized group is religious minorities. If so, this has health consequences and policy implications. Houses of worship (HOWs) are visible and physical symbols of religion. We use tax records to locate Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist or Hindu HOWs within census tracts for the entire contiguous United States. We combine these data with EJSCREEN data to analyze whether air pollution risks are greater in their presence. We find that, even holding constant race, ethnicity, and poverty, two non‐census‐measured religious minorities' HOWs are disproportionately impacted by air pollution in the United States: Jews and Muslims. This new knowledge has consequences for EJ policy and social justice‐motivated environmental research. Related Articles: Ash, John. 2010. "New Nuclear Energy, Risk, and Justice: Regulatory Strategies for an Era of Limited Trust." Politics & Policy 38(2): 255–84. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2010.00237.x. Fowler, Luke. 2022. "Searching for Green Elephants and Other Mythical Creatures during the Trump Years: Partisanship and Congressional Voting on Environmental Legislation." Politics & Policy 50(5): 913–41. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12499. Tubadji, Annie. 2023. "You'll Never Walk Alone: Loneliness, Religion, and Politico‐economic Transformation." Politics & Policy 51(4): 661–95. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12538. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgent and global concern of environmental problems transcends local and regional boundaries, posing significant challenges for policymakers in developing countries. Amid conflicting economic and environmental goals, evaluating the efficacy of regulatory policies becomes increasingly critical. This study investigates the effectiveness of public policy in incentivizing developing nations to prioritize environmental regulation, with a specific focus on China's most recent environmental policy, the Ecological Environmental Protection Plan. Using multilevel modeling and difference-indifferences estimation with data from six of China's most populous cities between 2014 and 2019, we see evidence of air quality improvements following the implementation of the policy. Furthermore, we observe greater enhancements in air quality in the cities most affected by the institutional details of the policy. This shows that well-crafted public policy can improve air quality, providing crucial insights for policymakers and scholars alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is one of the most severe environmental problems that Mexico is currently facing. The objective of this paper is to quantify the most relevant socioeconomic driving forces behind air polluting emissions and, more specifically, 7 local pollutants in Mexico. We do so in a multilevel version of the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology (STIRPAT) model that accounts for the spatial heterogeneity at the municipal level across the country. The results show that the most relevant variables to determine the emissions of atmospheric pollutants are the population, the harvested area and the number of cars, while technological development helps to mitigate such emissions. The ecological elasticities are, in all cases, smaller than one. Our purpose is to provide quantitative information about these socioeconomic driving forces of air deterioration as a basis to establish some recommendations for environmental policy decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Public opinion has a dynamic relationship with policy and real‐world outcomes in liberal settings where reliable information is abundant. In these settings, the public continuously updates its opinions with reliable policy‐relevant information, and the changes in public opinion go on to affect policy and outcomes. It is unknown whether this dynamic exists in illiberal settings where the public's access to reliable information is heavily restricted. Objectives: This article advances a theory of public opinion's dynamic relationship with policy and outcomes that applies to illiberal settings. Methods: Our study examines a vital public good in one of the world's most restrictive information environments and estimates a dynamic model of relationships among three variables—public opinion, policy, and outcomes—with a focus on public opinion and outcomes as the key dependent variables. The analysis looks at air pollution remediation in 274 Chinese localities. Results: We find that public opinion reacts to objective air pollution outcomes and not to misleading information that downplays air pollution severity, which suggests the public can accurately evaluate the reliability of available information. We also find that local public opinion's impact on local air pollution is substantively meaningful on timescales as short as 1 to 2 years, indicating that the additional policy effort prompted by public opinion change is sufficient to yield tangible real‐world outcomes even in the short term. Conclusion: Public opinion has a dynamic relationship with policy and real‐world outcomes even in highly illiberal settings. We argue that these findings are likely to generalize across issue domains with outcomes that can be directly observed by the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To understand the harm caused by air pollution and attract attention from government agencies, this study estimates the exposure to the elevated level of PM10 and its effect on health. This study employed two distinct approaches: cost-of-illness (COI) and willingness-to-pay (WTP). The results revealed that people are willing to pay for risk reduction initiatives, and the difference between COI and WTP is negligible. The entire sum estimated from the COI and WTP is adequate to pay the complete expenses of air pollution mitigation measures such as the deployment of Bus Rapid Transit. Therefore, government officials may concentrate on the best technique for lowering air pollution, notably in Vietnam. In the short term, hiking taxes to reduce carbon emissions in the city and implementing a subsidy plan for impacted stakeholders may be necessary. On the other hand, long-term solutions may include economic transformation and the building of a greener metropolis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is extensive evidence linking air pollution exposure to physical health. Less is known about the mental health impacts of poor air quality, especially in developing countries. We use data from India and estimate the causal impact of air pollution exposure on feeling sad, experiencing cognitive difficulties, and feeling unable to control and cope with important things in life. We instrument for air pollution exposure using the annual number of nighttime thermal inversions and show that air pollution exposure in the previous calendar year significantly worsens mental health in the current year. We examine potential mechanisms and find that air pollution exposure negatively impacts self-reported physical health, worsens respiratory conditions, and increases the likelihood of experiencing sleeping difficulties. Accounting for mental health impacts of pollution exposure is critical to accurately estimating the true health costs of air pollution and designing optimal environmental policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SOx and NOx emissions originating from the combustion of fuels during the operation of industrial boilers are one of the primary contributors to regional and local air pollution, which have major effects on human well-being and ecosystems. As governmental bodies attempt to regulate and enforce emission norms, the industries operating the boilers are presented with an opportunity to optimise their fuel mix configurations to achieve a reduction in SOx, NOx, and CO2 emissions while ensuring the financial sustainability of plant operations. In this study, a System Dynamic simulation model is constructed from the perspective of an individual plant to facilitate the analysis of SOx, NOx, and CO2 emissions and the expenditure incurred through energy use and pollution control systems under different fuel-mix configurations, market conditions, and policy scenarios. The model facilitates the identification of alternative fuel-mix configurations to replace existing single-fuel firing systems while also reducing both emissions and expenditure. To demonstrate the model, exemplar data based on prevalent market and policy conditions in India are used to identify alternative fuel-mixes for typical 40TPH boiler. The experiments additionally highlight the significance of having an appropriate penalty or tax on emissions to foster compliance with emission norms in the industry without adversely impacting their financial sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China' s goal of achieving peak carbon emissions by 2030 is the fundamental foundation for its scheduled achievement of carbon neutrality by 2060. Taking 280 prefectural-level cities in China from 2006 to 2019 as the research object and the achievement of the carbon peak goal by 2030 as the rigid constraint, this study proposed the logic of 'symbiosis-co-governance-sharing' and focused on the characteristics of symbiosis on carbon emissions and air pollution. On the basis of the quantitative decomposition of the annual goal of reaching peak carbon emissions and the identification of the profit and loss deviation on both carbon emissions and air pollution, this study examined the co-governance synergistic effects of carbon and air pollution and the sharing paths. The results showed that: (1) The goal of reaching peak carbon emissions played a significant synergistic role in reducing pollution and carbon emissions, which could promote the development of cities from deviation to balance and optimization and promote the urban function of making ' bad to good, good to better, and better to best, (2) The synergistic effects of the carbon peak goal on reducing pollution and carbon emissions showed a significant heterogeneous selection effect. In China' s western cities, resource-based cities, environmental protection key cities, and first-mover cities, these effects played a more important role and had a stronger influence. (3) The sharing paths of the synergistic effects lay in the dual perspectives of 'internal' and 'external' source management-process control-end-of-pipe blocking and the dynamic matching of external environmental policy uncertainty. In the continuous promotion of the ' dual carbon' goals, close attention should be paid to carbon reduction and the optimization of the design of multiple sharing paths to enhance the synergistic effects of carbon and pollution reduction. In specific, we should: (1) strengthen source management, control total fossil energy consumption at the source, adjust industrial structure, and focus on energy saving and consumption reduction; (2) strictly control process management, investigate the pollution transfer phenomenon caused by differences in environmental regulation levels and the consequences of profit and loss deviation, and promote the construction of green transportation system through multi-wheel drive; (3) highlight end-of-pipe blocking, implement the whole process of governance, monitoring, and emission reduction, enhance green innovation and fully utilize carbon reduction and sink increase; (4) use dynamic adjustment to achieve internal and external matching and timely implement environmental policies according to local conditions so as to achieve adjustment and precise regulations on time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the positive externalities of public transit, fares have been heavily subsidized throughout the United States and the world. Policymakers have designed these subsidies as a potential mechanism to reduce local air pollution. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of free-fare public transit subsidies in reducing air pollution. Studying the "Zero Fare for Better Air" initiative, I find no significant decrease in ground-level ozone due to free-fare public transit in Colorado. This paper also demonstrates how the free-fare initiative failed to improve welfare even when incorporating all the positive externalities of transit ridership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor air quality in large cities such as Bogotá, due to fixed and mobile emission sources of particulate matter, negatively affects the social, economic and ecological systems of the city. Population growth is one of the main causes that influence air pollution. Therefore, it is considered necessary to analyze the cause-effect relationships of pollution, its sources and the effects on the population. For this reason, developing a model using computer tools such as system dynamics, which can evaluate different environmental policy scenarios, will help to reduce pollution levels and improve the life quality of the population. The methodology used was quasi-experimental with a quantitative approach, divided into four stages, gathering information, proposing the causal diagram, developing the simulation model and evaluating scenarios. Vensim® was the software used as the simulation tool. As a result, it was found that highly polluting stationary and mobile sources cause an uncontrolled increase in PM10. It was also found that annual conversion rates to clean technologies must be 10% per year or higher to achieve a 50% reduction in PM10 levels, in the medium and long term. The main conclusions were to determine that the use of simulation technologies such as system dynamics are very useful to formulate more effective environmental policies. The simulation presented the need for environmental policies to be long-term structural policies that do not vary depending on the change of government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We attempt to investigate how and when foreign direct investment (FDI) impacts different types of environmental pollution in host countries. Using provincial data from China between 1995 and 2015, we find that FDI mitigates air pollution, yet it has insignificant effect on water and solid pollution. We further reveal that it is the combination of the technology, scale and structure effects that jointly determines the impact of FDI on environmental pollution. Among them, the technology effect takes the most dominant role, followed by the scale effect and structure effect. In addition, by considering the time effect on environmental policy change, we suggest that the pollution halo effect mainly occurs after air pollution policy revision. Our findings provide insight on the complex mechanisms and theoretical boundary of FDI on different types of environmental pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution negatively affects individuals' health and human capital accumulation. For example, students' school performance is hampered by air pollution as it decreases cognitive abilities and increases absences. Moreover, low-income students are the most exposed and vulnerable to the negative effects of air pollution as they lack protective resources and suffer from pre-existing health conditions. Here, we inquire how more stringent traffic regulations implemented in Central London from late 2015 affected pollution levels and school absences. First, we observe a substantive decrease in pollution in the area affected by the regulations from 2016 onwards. Secondly, we use a difference in differences approach to estimate the causal effect of the policy on school absences. For all schools combined, findings do not show any substantive improvement in attendance. However, when looking at the heterogeneous effects of the policy, we observe a significant decrease in absences for schools with a high share of students with low socioeconomic status (SES). Consequently, the findings highlight the efficacy of environmental policy in diminishing pollution levels and to benefit the poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the presence and insights of suspended atmospheric microplastics (SAMPs) in a coastal urban setting of Xiamen, China, focusing on the downtown tourist and urban-rural fringe areas. The abundance of SAMPs in Xiamen ranged from 0 to 0.062 items m−3, with an average of 0.011 ± 0.012 items m−3. Notably, the urban-rural fringe area exhibited a higher abundance of SAMPs compared to the tourist area, attributing to surrounding pollution sources and the effectiveness of environmental policies. Fibers emerged as the dominant form of SAMPs, with microbeads and films also observed. Polyethylene terephthalate emerged as the dominant type, and transparent and blue SAMPs constituted the largest proportion. Over 50% of the SAMPs were smaller than 1 mm, with the smallest particle measuring 29 μm. Correlation and principal component analyses revealed that atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, wind speed, and wind direction significantly influenced the distribution of SAMPs. Backward trajectory modeling indicated that marine air masses diluted the SAMP pollution, whereas continental air masses exacerbated it. This study represents the first assessment of SAMP pollution in Xiamen, shedding light on the interplay between local pollution sources, environmental factors, air masses, industrial layout, and environmental policies. It emphasizes the need for increased attention to atmospheric microplastic pollution in coastal urban landscapes and underscores the importance of effective mitigation strategies. [Display omitted] • Suspended atmospheric microplastics (SAMPs) were studied in a coastal urban zone. • SAMPs in Xiamen were 0–0.062 items m−3, with average 0.010 ± 0.012 items m−3. • Sources and environmental policies led to more SAMPs in urban-rural fringe area. • Fibers were dominant SAMP form, with microbeads and films observed. • Year-round monitoring gives seasonal variations in SAMPs, enhancing representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the European Union has officially announced that its' objective in terms of environmental policy is to achieve climate neutrality, including long-term low greenhouse gas emission, by 2050. In light of this, the current study aims to offer a new and updated perspective on the effectiveness of environmental taxes in reducing air pollution in the European Union. Firstly, cluster analysis is used to group the member states of the European Union according to characteristics that will make the research results more robust. Secondly, panel data dynamic error correction models were estimated for each cluster to assess the effect of environmental taxes (and other explanatory variables) on emissions of carbon dioxide on the one hand, and greenhouse gases in general on the other hand. The research looks at both short-run and long-run effects on air pollution. The results show a statistically significant negative long-run relationship between environment taxes and atmospheric pollutants emissions. However, this effect would happen with a certain delay and it would be short lived, which makes additional environment policy measures necessary to achieve the 2050 targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the birth of air pollutant regulation and its transformation, which, formerly under state control, moved on to a regime based on market instruments. The author shows the gradual commercialization of the approach to air pollution problems, whose origins can be traced to the United States, summarized in three different historic moments: the Emission Trading Program (1982), the Average between Refineries (1985), and the Acid Rain Program (1995). These experiments, in a framework of the command and control environmental regulatory regime, led to the creation of the first atmospheric contaminant emissions market in world history and opened up the road to the new "cap and trade" environmental regulatory regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment examines how framing power plant emissions in terms of air pollution or climate change, and in terms of health or environmental impacts, influences perceived benefits and costs of policies to reduce emissions and intentions to take political action that supports such policies. A moderated-mediation model reveals that focusing on air pollution, instead of climate change, has a positive significant indirect influence on intended political action through the serial mediators of perceived benefits and costs. Political ideology moderates the association between perceived benefits and political action. No framing effects are observed in the comparison between health and environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the framework produced by the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its desirability in requiring downwind states to prove cost-effectiveness of pollution controls in section 126 petitions. Topics discussed include the upholding of the rule in the case EPA v. EME Homer, the issues identified in the regulation of interstate air pollution under the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, and the public health benefits of the regulation.

Visualizing tools are now capable of synthesizing satellite imagery with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) results. The new method is applied in Augsburg, Germany, and consists of two main phases: pre-processing and post-processing. The pre-processing phase involves creating geometry, mesh, and extracting results from simulations of traffic pollutant dispersion. In the post-processing phase, the results are combined with satellite images to produce visually optimized results. The demonstration of road traffic air pollution is based on real data from local air quality measurements and specific scenarios. The results indicate that using these visualization tools produce understandable and impressive images and videos. This enhances the public's comprehension of scientific results and raises awareness of environmental issues. An increased understanding of scientific results can reinforce the implementation of environmental policies by pressuring responsible authorities to take action. This paper provides a valuable tool for visualizing air pollution and facilitating public engagement with environmental issues. • A new visualization tool capable of combining earth-observation images with CFD results which represent air-pollution dispersion. • Numerical simulation of air pollution fed to scientific visualization with 3D computer graphics to create photo-realistic images. • Photo-realistic results can guide environmental policies down to local level. • Easily comprehensible results make the general audience understand environmental conditions and enhance action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combustion of fossil fuels is largely responsible for the problems of climate change, air pollution, and energy insecurity. A combination of wind, water, and solar power is the best alternative to fossil fuels, the authors write, because renewable energy sources have near-zero emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, no long-term waste disposal problems, and no risks of catastrophic accidents. Compared with nuclear energy and biomass energy, the authors find that wind, water, and solar power, alone, would not only be advantageous but also feasible to meet 100 percent of the world’s energy needs. They explain how renewable energy systems can be designed and operated to ensure that power generation reliably matches demand; they calculate that these energy sources would cost less than fossil fuels when all costs to society are considered; and they recommend policies for easing the transition to energy systems based entirely on wind, water, and solar power. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

China's high‐speed economic development and reliance on overconsumption of natural resources have led to serious environmental pollution. Environmental taxation is seen as an effective economic tool to help mitigate air pollution. In order to assess the effects of different scenarios of environmental taxation policies, we propose a frontier‐based environmentally extended input–output optimization model with explicit emission abatement sectors to reflect the inputs and benefits of abatement. Frontier analysis ensures policy scenarios are assessed under the same technical efficiency benchmark, while input–output analysis depicts the wide range of economic transactions among sectors of an economy. Four scenarios are considered in this study, which are increasing specific tax rates of SO2, NOx, and soot and dust separately and increasing all three tax rates simultaneously. Our estimation results show that: raising tax rates of SO2, NOx, and soot and dust simultaneously would have the highest emission reduction effects, with the SO2 tax rate making the greatest contribution to emission reduction. Raising the soot and dust tax rate is the most environmentally friendly strategy due to its highest abatement to welfare through avoided health costs. The combination of frontier analysis and input–output analysis provides policy makers a comprehensive and sectoral approach to assess costs and benefits of environmental taxation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of its serious large-scale effects on ecosystems and its transboundary nature, acid rain received for a few decades at the end of the last century wide scientific and public interest, leading to coordinated policy actions in Europe and North America. Through these actions, in particular those under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, air emissions were substantially reduced, and ecosystem impacts decreased. Widespread scientific research, long-term monitoring, and integrated assessment modelling formed the basis for the policy agreements. In this paper, which is based on an international symposium organised to commemorate 50 years of successful integration of air pollution research and policy, we briefly describe the scientific findings that provided the foundation for the policy development. We also discuss important characteristics of the science–policy interactions, such as the critical loads concept and the large-scale ecosystem field studies. Finally, acid rain and air pollution are set in the context of future societal developments and needs, e.g. the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. We also highlight the need to maintain and develop supporting scientific infrastructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document exposes the current numbers of emissions generated by greenhouse gases (ghg). Likewise, a solution is sought for the elimination or reduction of these numbers. It focuses, specifically, on the air pollution rates, regarding urbanization and education as a starting point, as well as the conditions of modern life. From a current perspective, it analyzes some environmental policies, which have been applied by different governments in order to generate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambient air pollution represents a global health crisis, leading to 7 million annual deaths worldwide. The rise of a "global environmental regime" manifests in the widespread adoption of environmental policies and laws to reduce ambient air pollution, but debate remains whether they have any effect. Scholars argue that the relationship between the global environmental regime and air pollution depends on the penetration of the global environmental regime. In this analysis, I argue that the relationship between the global environmental regime and air pollution levels is contingent on a country's position in the world-system. Using fixed effects panel analyses of 144 countries from 1990 to 2010, I find embeddedness in the global environmental regime does predict lower national air pollution levels. This effect, however, is smaller in semi-peripheral and peripheral countries. These findings contribute to an emerging body of scholarship integrating world society and world systems approaches in the study of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2014, Chinese leaders declared "war against pollution," leaving local governments with considerable anti-pollution mandates – and, often, with the blame for insufficient implementation. There is a lack of large-scale systematic analyses of citizens' preferences for environmental protection by relevant government levels and the social structuration of such attitudes. This article aims first to assess associations between desire for local government to improve environmental protection, and socioeconomic status and air pollution; second, to identify indirect associations mediated by citizens' awareness of pollution. The research was based on nationally representative survey data from 2014. Results show the lowest occupational class as less likely than higher classes to mention environmental protection when asked which local government services should increase, but as likely to express environmental risk awareness. Policymakers should consider mechanisms such as social protection, inclusion and environmental justice to enhance local environmental policy desire among lower classes and facilitate effective environmental governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air quality in Kazakhstan cities has been poorly investigated despite their deteriorating situations. This study evaluates the national air pollution monitoring network data (PM10, NO2, SO2, and O3) in Kazakhstan cities, and provides the estimates of excess mortality rates associated with PM2.5 exposure using the Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM) concentration-response function. Morbidity rates associated with PM10 exposure were also estimated. Firstly, an air quality-based priority ranking of the cities was suggested based on the annual concentrations of the pollutants during the period of 3 years between 2015 and 2017. Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Ust-Kamenogorsk, and Aktobe were identified as the most polluted cities by PM10, NO2, SO2, and O3 respectively. Then, the exposure-response assessment was conducted for 21 cities. In major cities of Kazakhstan attributable to ambient air pollution per capita, mortality rate is 1 193 per 100 000 population per year, which is 8.97 times higher than in Europe. It is estimated that fine particulate matter exposure in the major cities of Kazakhstan causes 101 139 premature deaths annually. This study provides quantitative information on potential public health risks and impacts of air pollution, which is valuable for decision-makers to justify national environmental policies. Implications: Quantitative information on health impacts from air pollution can be useful for decision makers in Kazakhstan to justify environmental policies and identify policy and funding priorities for tackling air pollution issues. It can be also useful for policy makers in improving the quality of government funded environmental reports and strategic documents as they have many shortcomings in terms of selection of air quality indicators, identification of priority pollutants, identification of sources of pollution. This study has high significance due to the lack of data and knowledge in the region of Central Asia, in particular, of Kazakhstan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution causes severe environmental problems and has become a major health risk for livelihood in Delhi. With increase in population, there is an increase in emissions from various utilities as well. The main source of air pollution is crop residue burning followed by vehicular and industrial emission. Crop residue burning during winter produces a thick cloud of smoke and causes major threats to human health by deterioration in air quality. This crucial matter was also discussed in the Indian parliament. The National Green Tribunal and various Courts of India have directed to the Delhi government and various concerned agencies to resolve the air pollution problem. The present study discusses human health safety caused by air pollution, analysis and mitigation of air pollution using suitable environmental policies and application of biomass energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emissions of most pollutants that result in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) formation have been decreasing in the United States. However, this trend has not been uniform across all sectors or regions of the economy. We use integrated assessment models (IAMs) to compute marginal damages for PM2.5-related emissions for each county in the contiguous United States and match location-specific emissions with these marginal damages to compute economy-wide gross external damage (GED) due to premature mortality. We note 4 key findings: First, economy-wide, GED has decreased by more than 20% from 2008 to 2014. Second, while much of the air pollution policies have focused to date on the electricity sector, damages from farms are now larger than those from utilities. Indeed, farms have become the largest contributor to air pollution damages from PM2.5-related emissions. Third, 4 sectors, comprising less than 20% of the national gross domestic product (GDP), are responsible for ~75% of GED attributable to economic activities. Fourth, uncertainty in GED estimates tends to be high for sectors with predominantly ground-level emissions because these emissions are usually estimated and not measured. These findings suggest that policymakers should target further emissions reductions from such sectors, particularly in transportation and agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Informal brick manufacturing in Bangladesh emits substantial air pollution. • People living downwind from brick kilns experience worse respiratory health when kilns are operating. • Effects are larger for women. • Banning kilns from being constructed nearby residential areas does not protect population health. • Brick manufacturing must be cleaner and more efficient to prevent this externality. Coal-fired brick kilns have spread rapidly in Bangladesh, where they are one of the largest sources of air pollution. The adverse health impacts of air pollution have been widely documented, yet there is little empirical evidence on the externalities of this important industry. We conducted a field study in Bangladesh to quantify the contribution of brick kilns to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and estimate the association with child asthma symptoms, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and general respiratory symptoms. We exploit variation in the timing of brick production, seasonal wind direction, and household proximity to kilns to isolate the effects of brick manufacturing from other sources of air pollution. We find that PM 2.5 is 72.3 μg/m3 (95% CI: 10.2, 134.3) higher in areas 2 km downwind from a brick kiln during the brick production season. We also find 2.2 (95% CI: 1.2, 4.3) greater odds of COPD symptoms among adults over 40 and 4.2 (95% CI: 2.7, 6.8) greater odds of respiratory symptoms among adults over 18. Among children under 5, we found greater odds of respiratory symptoms (2.1, 95% CI: 0.7, 6.0) and asthma symptoms (2.5, 95% CI: 0.1, 96.1), but the results were underpowered for the smaller sample of children. Our findings suggest that existing regulations, which require that kilns be at least 1–2 km from residential areas, schools, and health facilities, are inadequate to protect nearby communities from the substantial health burden brick manufacturing imposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial literature in political science suggests that individuals' policy preferences can be shaped by the actions of elite actors and the policies they emphasize and implement. Yet can these actions and interactions have second order effects and actually affect individuals' beliefs about the causes of the problems that policy seeks to address in the first place? This research note identifies the effect of policy conflict upon individuals' beliefs about the societal problems, using original survey data from New Delhi. This effect is estimated by comparing beliefs about the causes of air pollution just before and after an unexpected policy conflict between the government and a judicial body over policy to limit vehicle usage. The results find that the policy conflict caused mass beliefs about the causes of pollution to change. In line with the theory of inferred justification, belief updating led individuals who generally approve (disapprove) of the government to believe vehicle usage was more (less) responsible for air pollution respectively. This is in spite of the fact that the spike in air pollution was caused by agricultural burning. The results suggest that policy conflict between political elites can not only affect mass policy preferences, but also alter beliefs about the cause of such societal problems policy seeks to address. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Border pollution is usually a difficult problem in environmental governance. Based on the data at the county level in China from 2005 to 2019, this study takes the 12th Five-Year Plan (FYP) for atmospheric pollution as a policy shock, and uses the difference-in-differences (DID) method to explore the impact of regional joint prevention and control (JPC) of atmospheric pollution policy on air pollution of the border regions. Empirical results show that: (1) After implementing the JPC of atmospheric pollution policy, the PM 2.5 concentration in the border regions is reduced by 3.5%. (2) The mechanism analysis shows that there is a spillover effect in the governing behaviors of local governments. In the border areas under low economic growth pressure and high environmental protection pressure, the reduction effect of the JPC of atmospheric pollution policy is more significant on the PM 2.5 concentration of the border regions. The research conclusions have new insights into the role and effect of macro-regional environmental JPC policy and border pollution control, and provide practical guidance for social green governance. • JPC of atmospheric pollution policy can reduce air pollution in border regions. • After implementing the JPC, PM 2.5 is reduced by 3.5% in border regions. • Under low economic growth pressure, PM 2.5 can be better reduced in border regions. • Under high environmental pressure, PM 2.5 can be better reduced in border regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for electricity worldwide has caused a corresponding rise in the consumption of coal, leading to an increase in sulfur dioxide (SO 2) pollution levels. Despite the severity of the issue, there is a lack of conclusive evidence establishing a causal link between SO 2 pollution and health, particularly in developing countries. We leverage a large national environmental regulation policy, implemented in China to reduce SO 2 emissions, to estimate the impacts of SO 2 pollution on mortality. We find that 1- μ g / m 3 reduction in SO 2 concentrations leads to 18 fewer cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 people aged 60 years and above (0.9% decrease) and 2 fewer deaths per 100,000 children under the age of 5 (1.5% decrease) annually. A back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests that the total health benefits of the environmental policy outweigh its economic costs. The results are consistent across various robustness checks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Willingness to pay (WTP) for clean air is one of the most important indicators of the public's acceptance of air pollution mitigation policies. However, few studies have characterized the spatial distribution of WTP, explored its "hypothetical bias", or analyzed its relationship with air pollutant concentrations. To address this gap in knowledge, a nationwide empirical study (N = 9744) was conducted from December 2016 to February 2017 in China. The contingent valuation method (CVM) was adopted to assess WTP based on a scenario, and air purifier costs (APCs) incurred by the public were used as an indicator of WTP in the real-life scenario. The results show that the mean value of APCs (243.81 CNY (year ⋅ person) − 1 ) is lower than WTP (275.39 CNY (year ⋅ person) − 1 ), which means that the Chinese public may not pay as much money for clean air in the actual scenario as in the WTP scenario. This result is important for predicting and evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of air pollution economic policies. We also observed significant spatial differences in APCs: the public in more heavily polluted areas such as the eastern coastal region, northern coastal region, Middle Yellow River region and northeast region have higher APCs than the public in other regions, the proportion of people who purchased air purifiers and the distribution of APCs positively correlated with concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than 2.5 (PM 2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O 3), while no significant spatial difference or correlation relationship was observed for WTP. This result indicates that pollutant concentration is not the main driving factor of WTP but they are driving factors for APCs, which may provide new evidence for the driving factors of WTP and APCs. Finally, the policy implications behind these results are discussed, providing references and scientific support for policy makers and subsequent research. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The spatial distribution of WTP and APCs for clean air are demonstrated. • APCs has significant spatial differences, while WTP does not. • WTP is higher than APCs, indicating the existence of "hypothesis bias". • APCs is correlated with air pollutant concentrations, while WTP is not. • Potential environmental policy implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Severe air pollution problems have led to a rise in the Chinese public's concern. Risk perception is one of the most important indicators of the public's concern about air pollution. However, there existed few studies exploring the spatial distribution of risk perception. To fill the gap, psychometric paradigm methods was adopted to assess the public's risk perception of air pollution. A nationwide empirical study was conducted from December 2016 to February 2017 and 10,653 completed questionnaires were collected. According to a series of screening strategies, 9744 qualified questionnaires were included as a sample, which covered 31 China provinces (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan were not included in this study). We found that 45% of the respondents were dissatisfied with the current air quality, many respondents concerned a lot about air pollution (76%) and worried about the harmful consequences of being exposed to air pollution (86%). There was significant difference in the public's risk perception and attitude toward air pollution among different regions: the respondents in the northeast region, northern coastal region, eastern coastal region and Middle Yellow river region perceived higher air pollution risk and lower satisfaction with air quality than other regions; and the public's trust in the government increased from coastal regions to inland regions. In addition, the hierarchical linear model (HLM) was used to explore the effects of demographic, environmental and economic factors on public risk perception and attitude toward air pollution. Based on this, the characteristics of sensitive populations regarding air pollution were identified. What's more, we found that PM 2.5 has a positive influence on perceived risk factor (PR) and can strengthen the positive correlation between PR and satisfaction with air quality (SAQ). Finally, policy implications behind these results were discussed, which can provide references and lay the foundation for policymakers and subsequent researchers. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • The Chinese public's overall risk perception for air pollution was surveyed. • Spatial distribution of risk perception for air pollution was described. • Hierarchical linear model was used to analyze influencing factors. • Spatial difference should be considered to avoid misassessment of risk perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Air quality in Krakow is determined by traffic and household heating emissions. • Public transportation is an important element of the city's environmental policy. • Modernization of the urban bus fleet contributes to reducing emissions. • Low emission public transportation is a primary objective for Krakow. Abstract This paper discusses the air quality impact of the replacement of buses in the Krakow metropolitan area by buses with better emission standards. The research focuses on the estimated amount of particulate matter and gas pollutants emitted by those vehicles between the years 2010–2015. The calculations have been done using COPERT software and are based on measured and gathered data from 156 bus lines. The emissions inventory presented in this paper is the first highly detailed research done for a fleet of urban buses in one of the largest urban areas in Poland. It was analysed using CORINAIR methodology. The conducted research has a couple of utilitarian aims. The first is an assessment of the emission reduction brought about by urban bus modernization. The second aim is estimating the contribution of particulate matter and gas pollutants by urban bus emissions in the Krakow area. It estimated that emissions from public transportation constitute 2.07% of the total emissions from road transportation in Krakow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Despite the various measures taken to reduce air pollution in France, the French continue to use high-emission vehicles. We propose to evaluate the Willingness To Pay (WTP) for four means of transport: two high-emission vehicles (diesel taxi and diesel personal vehicle) and two low-emission vehicles (rented electric vehicle and public transport). Successive messages revealing the effects of air pollution on health and the environment are provided to individuals in a different order. The information conveyed changes both of the WTP of individuals and of their choices. However, the use of high-emission vehicles has not diminished, personal vehicles remain the most popular. Using data collected from our survey, a multinomial logit model is used to determine individual choices. We find that improving individuals' confidence in air pollution recommendations would be a good way to lead them to choose low-emission rather than high-emission means of transport. Moreover, these estimates also indicate that individuals who attach great importance to comfort are less likely to choose low-emission vehicles than those who value price above other factors. Individual interest can therefore prevail over collective interest, thus verifying the theory of the tragedy of the commons. Different policies (taxes, subsidies, or standard) to encourage people to adopt low-emission vehicles are then tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the influence of age structure and gender on air pollution, dividing the age structure into four groups and use CO2 emissions as a measure of air pollution, which can be separated into four categories to obtain more complete findings, then employing panel cointegration techniques and panel-based error correction models. The data are collected from 29 OECD and 40 non-OECD countries in the period 1990-2014. For case of total CO2 emissions, younger (people under 30) and older people (people 65 and above) emit less than people in the intermediate age group, but the impact of age group on CO2 emissions is different when looking at CO2 emissions from coal, gas, and oil. While we take gender into account, the causality between age structure and CO2 emissions becomes significant, especially for the relationship between population and total CO2 emissions in OECD and non-OECD countries. We also note that more people who are aged 15-29 increase total CO2 emissions in OECD countries and more people who are aged 30-44 decrease CO2 emissions from coal in non-OECD countries. Our findings suggest that an energy and environmental policy should consider both age structure and gender effects on environmental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Fine particles associated with haze pollution threaten the health of more than 400 million people in China. It is therefore of great importance to thoroughly investigate and understand their composition. To determine the physicochemical properties in atmospheric fine particles at the micrometer level, we described a sensitive and feasible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) method using Ag foil as a substrate. This novel method enhanced the Raman signal intensities up to 10,000 a.u. for ν(NO 3 −) in fine particles. The SERS effect of Ag foil was further studied experimentally and theoretically and found to have an enhancement factor of the order of ~104. Size-fractionated real particle samples with aerodynamic diameters of 0.4–2.5 μm were successfully collected on a heavy haze day, allowing ready observation of morphology and identification of chemical components, such as soot, nitrates, and sulfates. These results suggest that the Ag-foil-based SERS technique can be effectively used to determine the microscopic characteristics of individual fine particles, which will help to understand haze formation mechanisms and formulate governance policies. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Korea has the highest air pollution among the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Since the recent environmental analysis (Kim et al., 2017) reported the feasibility of replacing taxis with electric vehicles (EVs) in metropolitan cities from a 'tank-to-wheel' emission perspective, various stakeholders have attempted to reduce air pollution by activating the EV market in Korea in accordance with international trends. Nevertheless, no holistic study has yet been published on the nationwide changes in air quality caused by EV diffusion from the perspective of 'well-to-wheel' emissions. This paper presents the results of estimating the stability of the electric power supply and fine particulate matter emissions in some cases, and the results of examining the structure of public discourse using big social media data. From the findings of our study, we made the following conclusions: (1) If the market share of EVs exceeds 12.5% before 2030 in Korea's domestic market, the supply and demand of stable energy will be threatened. (2) Under traditional energy mix conditions, the popularization of EVs may slightly reduce air pollution over metropolitan roads, but drastically increase air pollution near power plants that utilize fossil fuels. (3) Social media discussions show that the public is neither concerned about EVs being possible sources of pollutants, nor about potential instabilities in the energy market. (4) To obtain a socially acceptable energy mix, energy policy decision makers can select emission-free energy sources, such as nuclear power and renewable energy, depending on their priorities and based on power demand management to suppress excessive electrification. Highlights • The rapid expanding electric car market can threaten the supply and demand of stable enegy. • The effects of improving the air quality by electric cars differ depending on the region. • The public does not concern about electricity supply as well as air pollution by electric cars. • Policy makers can choose either nuclear power or renewable energy depending on their priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In January 2012, Beijing began releasing air quality report of PM 2.5. The move has been credited as a major breakthrough in China’s environmental governance as it is argued that online environmental activists in China were the major driving force behind it. Since then, the issue of air pollution has reemerged as one of the hottest issues and a series of new policies addressing air pollution have been adopted. Facing a relatively new phenomenon (wumai) and heightened public concerns, to what extent is the state still capable of guiding the pubic perception and opinions about the issue? By analyzing the discourse of air pollution in People’s Daily and comparing it with public opinion survey data, the paper finds that the state’s ability to guide public opinion is rather limited, indicating that opportunities do exist for civil society to play a bigger role in China’s environmental governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Over the last three decades, rapid industrialization in China has generated an unprecedentedly high level of air pollution and associated health problems. Given that China accounts for one-fifth of the world population and suffers from severe air pollution, a comprehensive review of the indicators accounting for the health costs in relation to air pollution will benefit evidence-based and health-related environmental policy-making. This paper reviews the conventional static and the new dynamic approach adopted for air pollution-related health cost accounting in China and analyzes the difference between the two in estimating GDP loss. The advantages of adopting the dynamic approach for health cost accounting in China, with conditions guaranteeing its optimal performance are highlighted. Guidelines on how one can identify an appropriate approach for health cost accounting in China are put forward. Further, we outline and compare the globally-applicable and China-specific indicators adopted by different accounting methodologies, with their pros and cons being discussed. A comprehensive account of the available databases and methodologies for health cost accounting in China are outlined. Future directions to guide health cost accounting in China are provided. Our work provides valuable insights into future health cost accounting research in China. Our study has strengthen the view that the dynamic approach is comparatively more preferred than the static approach for health cost accounting in China, if more data is available to train the dynamic models and improve the robustness of the parameters employed. In addition, future dynamic model should address the socio-economic impacts, including benefits or losses of air pollution polices, to provide a more robust policy picture. Our work has laid the key principles and guidelines for selecting proper econometric approaches and parameters. We have also identified a proper estimation method for the Value of Life in China, and proposed the integration of engineering approaches, such as the use of deep learning and big data analysis for health cost accounting at the fine-grained level (city-district or sub-regional level). Our work has also identified the gap for more accurate health cost accounting at the fine-grained level in China, which will subsequently affect the quality of health-related air pollution policy decision-making at such levels, and the health-related quality of life of the citizens in China. Highlights • The dynamic health cost accounting a preferred approach in China • Future dynamic model should address parameter robustness and socio-economic impacts. • Guidelines for selecting proper econometric approaches and parameters stated • Estimation methods for Values of Life in China and integration of methods proposed • Accurate health cost accounting at fine spatial resolutions needed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of ammonia on air pollution in the U.S. Topics include research led by atmospheric scientist Jeff Collett, the role of agricultural sources and automobiles in urban areas in causing air pollution, and air quality regulations affecting ammonia emissions in Great Britain. Possible U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policies are noted.

Normally, the temperature decreases with altitude, allowing air pollutants to rise and disperse. During inversion episodes, warmer air at higher altitude traps air pollutants at the ground. By merging vertical temperature profile data from NASA with pollution monitors and health care records, we show that inversions increase the PM10 levels by 25% and children's respiratory health problems by 5.5%. Low-income children are particularly affected, and differences in baseline health seem to be a key mediating factor behind the effect of pollution on the SES health gap. Policies that improve dissemination of information on inversion status may hence improve child health, either through private action or via policies that curb emissions during inversion episodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the ways that American approaches to public administration and policy are heavily shaped by a Cartesian ontology that emphasizes abstract notions of time, space, and consequences that result. It proposes an alternative drawing on Heideggerian phenomenology. It examines the implication of moving our perspectives from abstracted notions time and space to authentic encounters in the world, and uses environmental policy as a reference point to investigate potential expressions. It concludes with several propositional claims regarding the implications of this shift for environmental policy narrowly and democratic governance more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air quality has significantly improved in Europe over the past few decades. Nonetheless we still find high concentrations in measurements mainly in specific regions or cities. This dimensional shift, from EU-wide to hot-spot exceedances, calls for a novel approach to regional air quality management (to complement EU-wide existing policies). The SHERPA (Screening for High Emission Reduction Potentials on Air quality) modelling tool was developed in this context. It provides an additional tool to be used in support to regional/local decision makers responsible for the design of air quality plans. It is therefore important to evaluate the quality of the SHERPA model, and its behavior in the face of various kinds of uncertainty. Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis techniques can be used for this purpose. They both reveal the links between assumptions and forecasts, help in-model simplification and may highlight unexpected relationships between inputs and outputs. Thus, a policy steered SHERPA module - predicting air quality improvement linked to emission reduction scenarios - was evaluated by means of (1) uncertainty analysis (UA) to quantify uncertainty in the model output, and (2) by sensitivity analysis (SA) to identify the most influential input sources of this uncertainty. The results of this study provide relevant information about the key variables driving the SHERPA output uncertainty, and advise policy-makers and modellers where to place their efforts for an improved decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]