November 2014: Air pollution from Europe’s industrial facilities cost the region between €59-189 billion in 2012, with 1% of facilities responsible for 50% of the damage, according to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA). ‘Costs of Air Pollution from European Industrial Facilities 2008-2012′ presents damage cost estimates to health and the environment caused by air pollutants emitted from Europe’s industrial facilities.
By using a range of cost estimates, the EEA report evaluates the associated damage costs of harmful impacts caused by air pollution, such as premature death, hospital costs, lost work days, health problems, damage to buildings and lower agricultural yield.
The report notes the upper total cost estimate of €189 billion is approximately equal to Finland’s gross domestic product (GDP). In 2008-2012, the estimated cumulative damage costs to the region were between €329-1,053 billion. Over the five-year period, however, annual damage costs have declined, which the EEA estimates to be potentially caused by legislation, improving plant efficiency and economic recession.
The report finds that 147 facilities, out of 14,325 assessed, are responsible for half of Europe’s air pollution damage costs from industrial facilities. Three quarters of the total costs were caused by 568 facilities’ emissions.
The report provides information on air pollution costs from industrial facilities on a country and sector basis and identifies industrial facilities causing the highest damage costs to health and environment measured in Euros. The top-10 facilities are located in Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Germany and the UK. According to the EEA’s high-range estimate, Germany, Poland and the UK incur the highest financial costs whereas the energy sector represents the highest source of costs from air pollution. It notes that, “of the 30 individual facilities identified as causing the highest damage, 26 are power-generating facilities, mainly fuelled by coal and lignite and located predominantly in Germany and Eastern Europe.”
If 1,500 of Europe’s large combustion plants (LCPs) were to meet the emission limit values set for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxide (SO2) in the EU’s Industrial Emission Directive, direct benefits savings in the EU’s Member States would total approximately €11-33 billion per year (in 2005 €), according to the EEA’s findings. [EEA Press Release] [EEA Publication Webpage] [Publication: Costs of Air Pollution from European Industrial Facilities 2008-2012] [EEA Table on Industrial Facilities Causing the Highest Damage Costs] [EEA Table on Costs of Air Pollution by Country and Sector]