Environmental economics

EC 307: Resource & Environmental economics
Unit 6: Air Pollution

Lecturer: Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez [e-mail] Room S239, School of Economics,
Laucala Campus, USP, Suva, Fiji Islands.

Introduction
• Both consumption and production of energy produce a considerable amounts of air pollution.
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–
–
–
–
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CO2
CO
SO2
NOx
PM
VOC

(Carbon dioxide)
(Carbon monoxide)
(Sulphur Dioxide)
(Nitrogen oxides)
(Particulate matter)
(Volatile organic compounds, e.g., CH4)
EC307 Resource and Environmental Economics,

(Greenhouse gas)
(Greenhouse gas)
(Acid rain)
(GG and AR)
(Dust)
(Greenhouse gas)
Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez

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Carbon dioxide (CO2):
– 0,0387% of the Earth atmosphere is CO2.
– Very small variations may cause greenhouse effects on the atmosphere.
– Most of the human activities related to consumption and production of energy emites CO2.
– Petroleum, Coal and Natural gas among the main sources of CO2 emissions.
– Deforestation is also an important source of CO2 emissions – Visit the link: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/glo bal.html#one
EC307 Resource and Environmental Economics,

Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez

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Original Data citation: "Marland, G., T.A. Boden, and R. J. Andres. 2007. Global, Regional, and
National CO2 Emissions. In Trends: A Compendium of Data on Global Change. Carbon Dioxide
Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, United States Department of
EC307 Resource and Environmental
Energy, Oak Ridge, Tenn., U.S.A.". Economics,
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Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez

Figure: Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Gas
Source: IPCC (2007); EPA Disclaimer based on global emissions from 2004. Details about the sources included in these estimates can be found in the Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment
Report of the Intergovernmental Panel EC307 Resource and Environmental on Climate Change .
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Economics,
Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez