Impact indicators of airborne pollution and climate change: Application of the ExternE method for chemical economic sectors in the EU
Abstract
The aim of the paper is to analyze external costs of airborne pollution and climate change attributable to chemical industry in the European Union. The external costs are calculated using the bottom-up ExternE method that is based on impact pathway analysis.
Values of external costs are taken from several research projects we have participated in; the default values of external costs of airborne pollution (SO2, NOx, PM, NH3, NMVOC) are calculated using updated version of EcoSense tool in CASES and NEEDS projects; the EU-wide average values of externalities of some trace pollutants (Cd, Pb, As, Ni, Cr) are reviewed in DROPS; and marginal social costs of carbon have been estimated in the project NEEDS. After having identified the emission data released by economic sectors in the EU27 and its Member States, we compile indicators of external cost and its several impact categories, such as impacts on human health, crops, buildings/materials, biodiversity and climate change at the EU and country level.