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The CEE countries have already made significant progress in reducing pollutant emissions. This is clearly the result of the implementation of new environmental policies and regulations, and the changes in the level and main focus of economic activities. Further pollution reductions are possible by converting to gas and low-sulfur coal, the more widescale use of district heating systems, use of flue-gas desulfurization, energy saving equipment, and implementation of energy-efficient installations, and the use of advanced combustion technologies.
Economic incentives, the increased use of renewable energies, demand-side management, enhanced penetration of new technologies and the promotion of energy efficiency can be considered some of the other preventive measures available. Public awareness and understanding of the problems should also be increased.
The country studies and data presented above provide a significant resource for future knowledge transfer, not only among the countries of Central and Eastern Europe but conceivably also for the Newly Independent States and international cooperative projects, such as the work of the SILAQ group can facilitate this progress in the coming years.
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Filling the information gaps, both in terms of quantitative data and supplementary qualitative information should be the key target of future studies. Special attention should be given to those regions heavily affected by emissions from the industry and energy sectors. For example, in Bulgaria more then 50 percent of SO2 emissions alone are produced by the thermal power stations in the Maritza-East region, and a similar situation with respect to concentrated industrial pollution occurs in northern Bohemia in the Czech Republic, and in the Silesia region of Poland.
A multi-national project assessing of the various cleaning systems available for different flue gases in the SILAQ countries could be particularly useful. Further assessments, however, require bi-lateral and multi-lateral agreements and commitments.
Based on the experiences gained from the implementation of the various programs for the reduction of air pollution, the following measures could be undertaken in order to facilitate further progress in the SILAQ countries:
- Public awareness raising measures, including the preparation of a "status report" for official and public use;
- The development of a set of key case studies demonstrating the adverse impacts on human health and the environment losses arising in selected "hot spots";
- Improved air quality monitoring, especially with regard to small-size particulate matter;
- Short-term monitoring projects and data assessment related to specific local air quality problems;
- Experience-sharing in the field of innovative regulatory approaches and implementation instruments;
- Experience sharing in harmonizing environmental legislation, and with regard to monitoring and control systems in use within the EU, including the difficulties, impacts, and lessons learned;
- Workshops focusing on experiences in the application of economic incentives in air quality management;
- Experience sharing concerning the effective mobilizing and use of financial resources, including information on potential sources of external assistance;
- Study-tours and workshops on SO2 and particulate matter reduction, as well as on local air quality management (including East-East experience transfer);
- Improving the understanding of the impact of emission sources on ambient air quality;
- Developing case studies to assess the role of various pollution sources, and dissemination of the outcome of these studies;
- The development of indicators and criteria for the assessment of the effectiveness and constraints of various flue gas desulfurization systems;
- Preparing feasibility studies addressing options for SO2 and particulate matter emission reduction;
- Implementation of industrial-scale installations;
- Feasibility studies and demonstration projects on fuel cleaning (i.e., sulfur removal);
- Demonstration projects on the use of clean technologies in coal fired units burning coal with a high sulfur content;
- Dissemination of information on low-cost measures for local air quality management;
- Promotion of energy efficiency measures and other "win-win" approaches.
For the individual environmental "hot spot" areas identified, the following activities might also be undertaken:
- Preparation of integrated air quality management plans and action programs that include industry, power generation, traffic and households;
- Identification of least-cost approaches;
- Preparation of feasibility studies;
- Developing financing plans and funding applications;
- Demonstration projects for low-cost measures, cleaner technologies, energy efficiency, and other win-win approaches integrating the efforts of responsible national authorities;
- Assessment of the operational efficiency of pollution abatement technologies and management approaches;
- Dissemination of the results of project implementation.
However, such programs and measures can only take place with the specific financial support of donors and expert assistance from different countries and institutions. The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe with its network spanning 15 countries and expert relations could play a coordinating role in such a multinational program.
Boxes 22 and 23 present a sample of activities and forms of assistance available from international organizations or individual governments whose efforts in these areas should be acknowledged and which could once again be utilized. For country-specific projects, the main activities could be financially supported from national resources or on the basis of bi-lateral and multi-lateral agreements.
| BOX 22: World Bank Instruments Used to Address Urban Air Quality Issues |
Environmental Studies and Technical Assistance
- Environmental strategies and action programs;
- Risk assessment and health studies;
- Integrated urban air quality management studies and cross-sectoral discussions;
- Least-cost approaches and feasibility studies.
Pollution Abatement Projects
- Sectoral projects with pollution abatement components;
- Donor coordination.
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| BOX 23: Danish Environmental Support Fund |
The Danish Environmental Support Fund (DESF) was established according to the Law on Support for Environmental Activities in Central and Eastern Europe. To date it has funded 380 environmental projects and in the period 1991-1995, 76 of these were related to air quality, 47 among them devoted to emission reduction, i.e. 21 percent.
The majority of funds have been allocated to energy projects in the form of technical assistance. 28 projects have addressed SO2 emissions, and the expected SO2 reduction per year is 132 kt which is still 62 percent of Danish emissions at 1990 levels. There were 27 particulate matter related projects, with the reduction level around 29 kt.
Denmark has a competitive advantage in the field of emission control including large ESP, baghouses, FGD, De-NOx, vapor recovery, and catalytic incineration facilities. Among the suggested future target areas is the improvement of existing coal fired power plants in populated areas (through improvement of combustion efficiency and operational control, and the installation of particulate and SO2 emission control technology). Cleaner technologies, energy conservation, fuel changes and emission control systems to reduce PM and toxic gas emissions at industrial plants in populated areas should also be considered as well as transportation policy development, public transport and monitoring.
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