Environmental Costs of Fossil Fuels : A Rapid Assessment Method with Application to Six Cities
Among the key external effects of fossil fuel contribution are urban air pollution, and changes in global climate. A study of six cities in developing countries, and transition economies estimates the magnitude of these effects, and, examines how v...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Working Paper |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2000/10/1977243/environmental-costs-fossil-fuels-rapid-assessment-method-application-six-cities http://hdl.handle.net/10986/18303 |
| Summary: | Among the key external effects of fossil
fuel contribution are urban air pollution, and changes in
global climate. A study of six cities in developing
countries, and transition economies estimates the magnitude
of these effects, and, examines how various fuels, and
pollution sources contribute to health damages, and other
environmental costs. The study develops a simple, but robust
method for rapid assessment of these damages. By linking the
damage to a particular fuel use, or pollution source, the
method makes possible cost-benefit analysis of pollution
abatement measures. The findings show very high levels of
environmental damage, and reveal large sectoral differences.
By far the greatest share of the total damage, is that to
human health, from exposure to ambient particulates, caused
mainly by small pollution sources, such as vehicles, and
household stoves. Large industries, and power plants account
for a smaller proportion of health damage, but are the major
contributors to carbon dioxide emissions, which have an
impact on global climate. The complex relationships between
pollution sources, and environmental effects, highlight the
need for a skillful mix of policy instruments, built on
rigorous analysis. The damage assessment method proposed
herein, provides a useful analytical tool, to be easily
applied to other urban areas. |
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