FE387 Integrated environmental assessment modelling: final report of the Finnish subproject EU/LIFE Project

Coupling of CORINAIR data to cost-effective emission reduction strategies based on critical thresholds, LIFE97/ENV/FIN/336

Matti Johansson, Johanna Ahonen, Markus Amann, Jerzy Bartnicki, Marko Ekqvist, Martin Forsius, Niko Karvosenoja, Maria Lindström, Maximilian Posch, Riku Suutari and Sanna Syri, 2000

Finnish Environment 387, international cooperation, p. 108.
URN:ISBN:9521106611. Julkaisu on saatavissa vain painetussa muodossa ISBN 952-11-0661-1.

Abstract

The assessment of the acid rain problem has currently incorporated several interrelated effects (acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone) and pollutants (sulphur and nitrogen oxides, ammonia, volatile organic compounds) resulting in a very complex model and policy assessment, often referred to as the multi-pollutant/multi-effect approach. The development of effects-oriented cost-effective emission reduction strategies in Europe within EU (European Union) and UN/ECE/CLRTAP (Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution under the ausp ices of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) has been supported by inte rated assessment models.

The main aim of the EU/LIFE project and the Finnish subproject was to provide support for the demonstration and enhancement of national integrated assessment modelling on these air pollution issues. The tasks were closely connected to the background work of the international emission reduction strategy development and supported more detailed national policy assessment. The work in Finland covered the EU/LIFE project coordination, estimates on air pollutant emissions of sulphur, nitrogen and volatile organic compounds, potential and costs for emission controls, methods for emission projections, conversions between different air pollutant databases, the atmospheric transport and deposition of acidifying, eutroeying and neutralising depositions, effects of ground-level ozone exposure, assessment of harmful environmental impacts with critical loads and their exceedances and dynamic soil acidification simulations, issues on variability and uncertainty and the national dialogue between scientific research and decision-making in air pollution prevention.

The results provide a quantified overview on methods, data and uncertainty of Finnish integrated model systems used in the EU and UN/ECE/CLRTAP work. The findings were disseminated extensively among national and international air pollution experts and decisionmakers and also public interested in environmental issues.