Q53 - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; RecyclingReturn

Environmental Improvement Possibilities for Local Governments: Example of Reducing PM10 Concentration in Air The municipality can significantly improve the air in its territory by regular cleaning of its street network. The aim of this study is therefore to demonstrate the positive effect of machine cleaning of roads on the reduction of PM10 dust particles in the air. These particles are the result of emissions from transport and more than 83% of them come from the so-called resuspension (the secondary whirling of particles that lie on the road). Cleanliness and care of public spaces, in which road cleaning may be included, belongs to the so-called compulsory tasks of self-governments in some legal regulations, e.g., Bavarian, Polish, Slovak and Serbian, and as this study shows, its positive effect is measurable, which is not common among activities of local municipalities. Therefore, it may be stated that the funds invested by local governments in mechanical road cleaning have a significant positive effect on reduction of PM10 particles in the air and thus on the health of their citizens. The study is based on measurements performed in the capital city Prague from 2013 to 2019 and uses monthly data from 4 measuring stations, for which it was also possible to obtain adequate meteorological data of variables that affect the occurrence of PM10 particles in the air. The results of the study can be used to properly set up the machine cleaning system so that its effect is as high as possible. Stata econometric software was used for the data analysis. The study builds on similar analyses carried out in recent years in Europe, the Arabian peninsula and Asia.

Dynamic Model of Common-pool Emission Permit Market as a Method for Solving the Persistent Pollutant Problem In the paper, we develop a common-pool permit market formulated as a dynamic gross pool for trading emission discharge permits (EDPs) for persistent pollutants. We discuss individual agents' demand decisions concerning EDPs and develop a common-pool market dynamic gross pool formulation, including a general set of marginal-cost pricing rules used in this type of permit trading market. Numerical simulations are used to illustrate the usefulness of this type of permit market design for addressing environmental problems.

Our study investigates the benefits that the Czech inhabitants could gain from the reduction of road traffic noise. We applied contingent valuation study in order to estimate willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the reduction of traffic noise by 10 dB (from 70 dB up 60 dB). Using data from 2010 Czech representative survey (n=2,104), we estimated mean WTP by nonparametric method which was based on the Kaplan-Meier estimate. Further, we explained the variability of WTP using Double-Hurdle model. In the first step, the Probit model explained the choice of individuals that are willing to participate on the program decreasing the road noise. In the second step, the log-normal regression model explained the variability of WTP on the socio-economic characteristics of individuals and characteristics of noise in the area where people live.

The paper analyses impacts of environmental regulation on Czech power system. We employ MESSAGE modelling platform to construct a dynamic linear optimisation energy model of the Czech power system. We analyse regulation impacts on fuel use and CO2 emission, fuel-mix and technology-mix, induced investment and fuel and other O&M costs to generate electricity over the period 2006-2030. Negative external costs attributable to endogenously determined new level of air quality pollutants are quantified to make our cost-benefit analysis more complex. Overall, effects of four policy scenarios are assessed, including subsidies for renewable energy, increase in air quality charge rates and an introduction of the EU ETS in the Czech power system. Based on our simulation, we find that prospected 10-fold increase in charging of air quality pollutant would not have any significant effect on emission and would not bring any stimuli for change in technology and fuel mixes. Subsidy to renewable energy would result in their development; however, larger effect would appear in far future and only if new nuclear power units are not allowed to build. Auctioned EUA, especially above €15 per tonne of CO2, would be the only effective instrument with significant effects on power sector. Key factor on CO2 emission is whether scenario consists of new nuclear power units or these units are banned. Our simulation results hold even if we allow the key model assumption to vary, except, the discount rate that would have effect on whether more-investment intensive technologies are used to generate electricity.