Synergies and trade-offs between climate measures and air pollution
The Dutch research programme on air and climate (BOLK) identifies gaps in the knowledge on synergies and trade-offs between climate measures and emissions of air pollutants, and attempts to fill these gaps. This knowledge is used to support Dutch policy development on air and climate change.
The programme includes research into the effects on air pollutants from applying biofuels in traffic, biomass and biofuels in stationary installations, and carbon capture and storage in power generation and industry.
Dutch Policy Research Programme on Air and Climate (BOLK)
New policy targets for air and climate
From 2008 to 2010, important policy developments are taking place in the European Union, also in the Netherlands, in the field of climate change mitigation and air quality improvement. In this period, also the Gothenburg Protocol of the United Nations Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (UN-CLRTAP) is being revised, which will result in national emission ceilings for 2020. While developing new policies and setting new targets for 2020, the European Commission, the UN and the Dutch Government attempt to take into account the synergies and trade-offs between climate measures and air pollution.
Knowledge gaps impede accurate assessment of synergies and trade-offs
For several important climate measures, such as the use of biofuels in traffic, biomass and biofuels in stationary installations, and carbon capture and storage, their effects on air pollution is less well known. These knowledge gaps prevent countries from more accurately assessing the future effects of climate measures on air pollution. In order to fill these specific knowledge gaps, a policy research programme on air and climate has been set up in the Netherlands.
Set up of the BOLK research programme
The policy research programme runs from January 2008 until mid 2010 and is split in two phases. Phase one was carried out and completed in 2008. Phase 2 runs from beginning 2009 to mid 2010. The available reports and presentations can be accessed through the links below. The programme is commissioned and financed by the Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM) and is carried out by a consortium led by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL). Other members of the consortium are the Centre for Energy (CE) Delft, ECOFYS, Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), and the University of Utrecht.
Reports and presentations of phase 1: literature study and a broad overview
Reports and presentations of phase 2: in-depth studies from 2009 and 2010
Workshop Estimating synergies and trade-offs between climate and air quality policies
Preliminary programme Workshop (Friday 18 June 2010, Utrecht, The Netherlands)
External links
- Europa - Environment - Climate action and renewable energy package
- Europa - Environment - Air quality improvement
- Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM)
- VROM Dutch climate policy plan ‘Clean and Efficient’
- VROM Air quality
- CE Delft (CE)
- Ecofys
- Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN)
- Netherlands Organization for Applied Research (TNO)
- University of Utrecht (UU)
More information
Additional information on the programme and its results can be obtained from our contact email address (info@pbl.nl), or from one of the partner institutes in the programme.
