Air pollution and energy policies: Difference between revisions
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|KeyReference=Kruyt et al., 2009; Van Ruijven et al., 2012; | |KeyReference=Kruyt et al., 2009; Van Ruijven et al., 2012; | ||
|Reference=EC, 2010; AGECC, 2010; | |Reference=EC, 2010; AGECC, 2010; | ||
|Description=Many countries around the world have formulated explicit policies to address the role of the energy system in achieving their development ambitions. Typically, these policies are clustered around three main goals: | |Description=Many countries around the world have formulated explicit policies to address the role of the energy system in achieving their development ambitions. Typically, these policies are clustered around three main goals: | ||
# affordable energy, | # affordable energy, | ||
#clean energy | #clean energy | ||
# reliable energy. | # reliable energy. | ||
The European Energy Strategy, for instance, aims for a ‘competitive, sustainable and secure’ energy system ([[EC, 2010]]). Similarly, the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change ([[AGECC]]) indicates that the energy system should ensure reliable, affordable, and sustainable access to modern energy services ([[AGECC, 2010]]). It should be noted, however, that also other energy policies are pursued. Energy exporting countries, for instance, typically aim to maximise the rents from national fossil-fuel reserves. And many countries have formulated policies to support specific sectors and purposes by offering subsidised energy carriers and other ways to keep prices below market levels. Examples are national industries favouring special, low energy prices, subsidised oil products, electricity for households and irrigation, and tax exemptions. Although inspired by other policy considerations, such measures do rank under the so-called harmful subsidies, from an environmental point of view. Clearly, taken together these energy goals represents difficult trade-offs, but also opportunities for synergy; model studies can help to identify and explore these. This section discusses how the IMAGE model can be used to explore the impacts of energy policies, in addition to specific [[Climate policies]], but with obvious mutual linkages. We focus on three aspects: energy security, access to modern energy sources, and reducing air pollution. Energy security concerns may limit the use of foreign supplies, with possible implications for domestic energy prices and environmental impacts. Access to modern energy will generate additional demands for fuels and electricity, with important benefits for economic development, but also more energy imports. Outside air pollution from burning fossil fuels may increase, but the phase-out of traditional bio-energy will greatly reduce indoor air pollution, resulting in net health improvements. Currently, burning fossil fuels and biomass contributes to – in some regions and cities very severe and increasing – levels of air pollution and associated health impacts; see also [[Section 8.3]] | The European Energy Strategy, for instance, aims for a ‘competitive, sustainable and secure’ energy system ([[EC, 2010]]). Similarly, the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change ([[HasAcronym::AGECC]]) indicates that the energy system should ensure reliable, affordable, and sustainable access to modern energy services ([[AGECC, 2010]]). It should be noted, however, that also other energy policies are pursued. Energy exporting countries, for instance, typically aim to maximise the rents from national fossil-fuel reserves. And many countries have formulated policies to support specific sectors and purposes by offering subsidised energy carriers and other ways to keep prices below market levels. Examples are national industries favouring special, low energy prices, subsidised oil products, electricity for households and irrigation, and tax exemptions. Although inspired by other policy considerations, such measures do rank under the so-called harmful subsidies, from an environmental point of view. Clearly, taken together these energy goals represents difficult trade-offs, but also opportunities for synergy; model studies can help to identify and explore these. This section discusses how the IMAGE model can be used to explore the impacts of energy policies, in addition to specific [[Climate policies]], but with obvious mutual linkages. We focus on three aspects: energy security, access to modern energy sources, and reducing air pollution. Energy security concerns may limit the use of foreign supplies, with possible implications for domestic energy prices and environmental impacts. Access to modern energy will generate additional demands for fuels and electricity, with important benefits for economic development, but also more energy imports. Outside air pollution from burning fossil fuels may increase, but the phase-out of traditional bio-energy will greatly reduce indoor air pollution, resulting in net health improvements. Currently, burning fossil fuels and biomass contributes to – in some regions and cities very severe and increasing – levels of air pollution and associated health impacts; see also [[Section 8.3]] | ||
Revision as of 18:15, 10 January 2014
Parts of Air pollution and energy policies
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Key policy issues
- How do energy policies contribute to economic and social development, and how do they support or hamper a more sustainable future?
- How can the goals for affordable, clean and reliable energy be achieved taking into account possible synergies and trade-offs?