MERLIN

Multi-pollutant, Multi-Effect Assessment of European Air Pollution Control Strategies - an Integrated Approach

General information about the project

Acronym: MERLIN

Project No: EVG1-CT-2000-00032

Program: EESD

Competition No: EESD-ENV-99-2

Key action: RTD activities of a generic nature: Socio-economic aspects of environmental change in the perspective of sustainable development

Type of project: RTD

Status: ongoing project : 1.02.01 – 31.01.04

Project duration: 36 months

Co-ordinator: Prof. Rainer Friedrich, Universitaet Stuttgart, Kepplerstrasse 7, 70174 STUTTGART – GERMANY

Consortium:

  1. University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT LONDON - GREAT BRITAIN

  2. Det Norske Meteorologiske Institutt, P.O. Box 43, Niels Henrik Abelsvej 40, 0313 OSLO - NORWAY

  3. Ecofys B.V. , P.B. 8408, Kanaalweg 16-G, 3503 RK UTRECHT - THE NETHERLANDS

  4. Aristoteleio Panepistimio Thessalonikis, University Campus, Egnatia Str., Administration Building, 54006 THESSALONIKI – GREECE

  5. Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, 6 Kossutha Street, 40-833 KATOWICE - POLAND

Project description

Emissions of air pollutants still present a source of considerable adverse effects on human health, materials, agricultural crops and ecosystems in Europe. Effects like acidification, eutrophication, summer smog episodes and global warming have yet only been addressed on an individual basis, not properly taking into account interdependencies of effects as well as synergies between abatement measures. Furthermore, the impact of air pollution control strategies on national economies can be significant, but has not yet been included in a comprehensive set of models for an integrated environmental assessment.

The overall goal of the project is to develop and implement methodologies and tools for an integrated assessment of European air pollution control strategies. By taking into account all relevant air pollutants and their impact, costs and benefits can be assessed in an integrated way. This allows for a consistent investigation of abatement costs, benefits due to avoided damage costs, their impacts on the economies and their distributional effects. To achieve project objectives a computer-based model system will be developed to determine a bundle of air pollution control measures, that is capable of achieving compliance with air quality limit and target values (for emission, concentrations and deposition) for specific pollutants at least-costs. Furthermore, the model will be used to calculate benefits, i.e. avoided damage costs by implementing air pollution control measures, first in a physical way, and in a second step - as far as possible - in monetary terms. Thus, costs and benefits of different bundles of measures can be estimated and cost-benefit analysis can be applied. In addition, macroeconomic effects and distributional impacts of pollution control strategies will be determined.

To achieve a complex approach for a simultaneous impact of a number of pollutants the project assumes studies of the following effects: acidification of the environment (nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide), eutrophication (nitrogen oxides and ammonia), presence of original and secondary aerosols (particulate matter PM 10 and PM 2,5, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and ammonia), low-troposheric ozone (nitrogen oxides, non-methanic volatile organic compounds, carbon oxide), global warming (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen suboxide, particulate matter) and accumulation of heavy metals in soils.

During the first year data collection and definition of interfaces within the project and to external sources/users will be the focus. Throughout the second year model adaptation as well as development and enhancement of assessment tools will be carried out, resulting in the availability of a complete instrument for integrated assessment at the beginning of the third year. The last year of project duration will be used for testing and applying the model framework, adapting to upcoming issues and providing policy support to the EC bodies involved in developing air pollution control strategies for Europe.

To meet the project objectives described above, the following tasks have to be carried out:

Modeling and assessment will be conducted at all necessary levels, from atmospheric dispersion modeling on European and urban scale to macroeconomic impact assessment of optimized control strategies for all relevant pollutants and the assessment of distributional effects and burden sharing issues.

Applications

Tools developed in the course of project realization will be employed and tested from the viewpoint of matching the plans for setting up a Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) strategy i.e. to achieve consistency of air pollution standards set up in EU directives, UNECE critical loads for acid and nitrogen deposition and target pollution emission reduction levels in European countries as specified in the Kioto and Goeteborg Protocols. Beside the EU member countries special emphasis is put on encompassing the CEE countries and EU Associated Countries into project analyses

Complex assessment of European air pollution control strategies and their efficiency will allow achieving air quality targets and define impacts on economic indicators. The developed instrument will serve to support the policy of European Commission, European Parliament, and Executive Offices of International Conventions.

IETU’s role in the implementation of the project

IETU is responsible for the following tasks:

Additional information: http://www.ier.uni-stuttgart.de/extern/merlin/en/

Contact person at IETU:

Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas (IETU)
Dr Janina Fudała
6, Kossutha St.
40-833 Katowice
phone: +48-32-254 60-31
fax: +48-32-254 17-17
e-mail: fudala@ietu.katowice.pl

 
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