Air Pollution, Environmental Policy, and Economics in the Federal Republic of Germany

摘要

Emission of major pollutants, air quality, and the effects of air pollution on man, animals and buildings in West Germany since the 1974 clean air act are discussed. Air pollution and microeconomic theory is considered. Efforts at reducing emissions are less successful than they used to be. Some substances (e.g., NOx) even show a marked increase. This is true not only for emissions measured in absolute terms, but also in relation to fossil fuel input (specific emissions). Emissions of major pollutants in urban and industrial areas have steadily decreased, while there is a slight upward trend in rural air pollution. Federal air quality standards are in general met, but inferences as to human exposure to air pollution are difficult.