Technical Report on Water Quantity and Quality in Europe: an integrated economic and environmental assessment
Citations
Altmetric:
Series / Report no.
Open Access
Type
Report
Language
en
Date
2001-09-19
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Title
Technical Report on Water Quantity and Quality in
Europe: an integrated economic and environmental
assessment
Translated Title
Waterkwantiteit- en
kwaliteit
Published in
Abstract
Ondanks verbeteringen van het milieu in Europa op een
aantal terreinen, is een aangescherpt milieubeleid in de Europese Unie
noodzakelijk om de gezondheidsschade en het natuurverlies te beperken. Een
kosten-batenanalyse wijst uit dat zo'n beleid robuust is en dat de
macro-economische gevolgen beheersbaar zijn. Belangrijke prioriteiten voor
het EU-milieubeleid zijn klimaatverandering, stikstof-eutrofiering, fijn
stof, ozon en biodiversiteit. Dit zijn de belangrijkste bevindingen van een
internationaal studieconsortium onder leiding van het RIVM. De studie is
verricht in samenwerking met EFTEC (UK), NTUA (Griekenland), IIASA
(Oostenrijk). Daarnaast hebben TNO en TME bijdragen geleverd. Ook is in
het kader van de studie intensief samengewerkt met het Europese
Milieuagentschap in Kopenhagen. De studie is verricht op verzoek van de
Europese Commissie als bijdrage voor het zesde Milieu-Actieprogramma, dat
door de Europese Commissie is gepresenteerd. In de studie stonden vijf
vragen centraal: Is het huidige beleid adequaat genoeg? Kan technologie de
geconstateerde beleidstekorten oplossen? Zijn ambitieusere
milieudoelstellingen te realiseren? Zo ja, zijn deze doelen ook in
economische zin verstandig? Welke beleidsreacties en -instrumenten zijn aan
te bevelen? Deze vijf vragen zijn geanalyseerd voor twaalf Europese
milieuproblemen, zoals klimaatverandering, biodiversiteit en chemische
risico's. De analyse bestaat uit een analyse van de kosten van vermeden
schade, milieu-uitgaven, risicoschattingen, publieke opinie, sociale
gevolgen en duurzaamheid. De studie bevat ook informatie over
milieudoelstellingen, scenario's en beleidsopties en - maatregelen,
inclusief de kosten en baten hiervan. Dit rapport is het technische
achtergrondrapport dat behoort bij het hoofdrapport. Er zijn twaalf
technische achtergrondrapporten opgesteld, waarvan negen een specifiek
milieuprobleem behandelen (analyse van het probleem, scenarios,
kosten-batenanalyse en beleidsopties). Daarnaast zijn er drie algemene
achtergrondrapporten opgesteld over de macro-economische gevolgen, de
uitbreiding van de EU en de gehanteerde batenmethodiek.
The economic assessment of priorities for a European environmental policy plan focuses on twelve identified Prominent European Environmental Problems such as climate change, chemical risks and biodiversity. The study, commissioned by the European Commission (DG Environment) to a European consortium led by RIVM, provides a basis for priority setting for European environmental policy planning in support of the sixth Environmental Action Programme as follow-up of the current fifth Environmental Action Plan called 'Towards Sustainability'. The analysis is based on an examination of the cost of avoided damage, environmental expenditures, risk assessment, public opinion, social incidence and sustainability. The study incorporates information on targets, scenario results, and policy options and measures including their costs and benefits. Main findings of the study are the following. Current trends show that if all existing policies are fully implemented and enforced, the European Union will be successful in reducing pressures on the environment. However, damage to human health and ecosystems can be substantially reduced with accelerated policies. The implementation costs of these additional policies will not exceed the environmental benefits and the impact on the economy is manageable. This requires future policies to focus on least-cost solutions and follow an integrated approach. Nevertheless, these policies will not be adequate for achieving all policy objectives. Remaining major problems are the excess load of nitrogen in the ecosystem, exceedance of air quality guidelines (especially particulate matter), noise nuisance and biodiversity loss. This report is one of a series supporting the main report: European Environmental Priorities: an Integrated Economic and Environmental Assessment. The areas discussed in the main report are fully documented in the various Technical reports. A background report is presented for each environmental issue giving an outline of the problem and its relationship to economic sectors and other issues; the benefits and the cost-benefit analysis; and the policy responses. Additional reports outline the benefits methodology, the EU enlargement issue and the macro-economic consequences of the scenarios. This report documents the Water Quantity and Quality issue.
The economic assessment of priorities for a European environmental policy plan focuses on twelve identified Prominent European Environmental Problems such as climate change, chemical risks and biodiversity. The study, commissioned by the European Commission (DG Environment) to a European consortium led by RIVM, provides a basis for priority setting for European environmental policy planning in support of the sixth Environmental Action Programme as follow-up of the current fifth Environmental Action Plan called 'Towards Sustainability'. The analysis is based on an examination of the cost of avoided damage, environmental expenditures, risk assessment, public opinion, social incidence and sustainability. The study incorporates information on targets, scenario results, and policy options and measures including their costs and benefits. Main findings of the study are the following. Current trends show that if all existing policies are fully implemented and enforced, the European Union will be successful in reducing pressures on the environment. However, damage to human health and ecosystems can be substantially reduced with accelerated policies. The implementation costs of these additional policies will not exceed the environmental benefits and the impact on the economy is manageable. This requires future policies to focus on least-cost solutions and follow an integrated approach. Nevertheless, these policies will not be adequate for achieving all policy objectives. Remaining major problems are the excess load of nitrogen in the ecosystem, exceedance of air quality guidelines (especially particulate matter), noise nuisance and biodiversity loss. This report is one of a series supporting the main report: European Environmental Priorities: an Integrated Economic and Environmental Assessment. The areas discussed in the main report are fully documented in the various Technical reports. A background report is presented for each environmental issue giving an outline of the problem and its relationship to economic sectors and other issues; the benefits and the cost-benefit analysis; and the policy responses. Additional reports outline the benefits methodology, the EU enlargement issue and the macro-economic consequences of the scenarios. This report documents the Water Quantity and Quality issue.
Description
Publisher
Sponsors
European Commission