Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Ground-Level Ozone Control in and Around Beijing

This study assesses a number of policy options that could help reduce ground level ozone pollution in Beijing. Ground level ozone pollution is one of the most significant air pollution problems in big cities in China. Because of the complex way in which ozone is formed, it is difficult for policy makers to identify optimal control options on a cost-effective basis. The study assesses a range of options to address this problem. It compares the effectiveness and economic costs of these options, and then recommends the most effective sequence in which the options should be adopted to realize pollution control at the lowest cost. The study finds that the installation of oil gas recovery systems at Beijing's 1446 gasoline stations would be the most cost-effective option. Overall, it is found that options to reduce ozone pollution by cutting vehicular emissions are much more cost-effective than options to "clean-ip" coal-fired plants. A series of options for controlling vehicular emissions have been introduced, including substituting gasoline buses with clean fuel buses and phasing out high emission vehicles (those with low emission standards) in Beijing. The study also highlights that cost-effective pollution control can be achieved by, for example, better practices when refueling vehicles. The results of this research are expected to help decision makers to bate ozone pollution in a cost-effective way.