A set of environmental targets tends to be informed by comparisons of the apparent economic cost of achieving the target, and the perceived benefits. This book provides an evaluation of the extent to which this "cost effectiveness" approach could be still better informed by an analysis of benefits.

A set of environmental targets tends to be informed by comparisons of the apparent economic cost of achieving the target, and the perceived benefits. This book provides an evaluation of the extent to which this "cost effectiveness" approach could be still better informed by an analysis of benefits. It considers the environmental impacts of acidifying pollutants - on human health, buildings and materials, forests, freshwaters, crops, biodiversity, global warming and visibility - and makes an assessment of damage valuation estimates within the ECE region. Extensive reviews of available data are provided, along with details of the implementation of scientific and economic modelling to reach an acidification cost per unit of pollutant in monetary terms. The book concludes with a summary of these findings and puts forward a number of recommendations for further application of these types of results to policy actions.

Part 1 Methodology: background to the acid rain problem
the scientific assessment of acidification
dose-response relationships to acidifying species
the economic approach to acidification control. Part 2 Impacts and economic consequences: forests
freshwaters
ecosystem damage and the effects on biodiversity
crops
buildings and materials
health
visibility
global warming and acid rain
damage from NOX emissions. Part 3 Summary and recommendations.