How unnecessarily high abatement costs and unresolved distributional issues undermine nutrient reductions to the Baltic Sea |
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Authors: | Anna Andersson Mark V Brady Johanna Pohjola |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences & AgriFood Economics Centre, Box 7080, 220 07 Lund, Sweden ;2.Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC), Lund University, Box 188, 221 00 Lund, Sweden ;3.Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland |
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Abstract: | This paper systematically reviews the literature on how to reduce nutrient emissions to the Baltic Sea cost-effectively and considerations for allocating these costs fairly among countries. The literature shows conclusively that the reduction targets of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) could be achieved at considerably lower cost, if countries would cooperate to implement the least costly abatement plan. Focusing on phosphorus abatement could be prudent as the often recommended measures—wastewater treatment and wetlands—abate nitrogen too. An implication of our review is that the potential for restoring the Baltic Sea to good health is undermined by an abatement strategy that is more costly than necessary and likely to be perceived as unfair by several countries. Neither the BSAP nor the cost-effective solution meet the surveyed criteria for fairness, implying a need for side-payments.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01580-4. |
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Keywords: | Baltic Sea Cost effectiveness Eutrophication Fairness Nutrients |
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