Effects of local greenhouse gas abatement strategies on air pollutant emissions and on health in Kuopio, Finland

Implementation of greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement strategies often ends up as the responsibility of municipal action rather than national policies. Impacts of local GHG reduction measures were investigated in the EU FP7 funded project Urban Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in China and Europe (URGENCHE). Kuopio in Finland was one of the case study cities. The assessed reduction measures were (1) increased use of biomass in local heat and power cogeneration plant, (2) energy efficiency improvements of residences, (3) increased biofuel use in traffic, and (4) increased small scale combustion of wood for residential heating. Impact assessment compared the 2010 baseline with a 2020 BAU (business as usual) scenario and a 2020 CO₂ interventions scenario. Changes in emissions were assessed for CO₂, particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀), NO_x, and SO₂, and respective impacts were assessed for PM_2.5 ambient concentrations and health effects. The assessed measures would reduce the local CO₂ emissions in the Kuopio urban area by over 50% and local emissions of PM_2.5 would clearly decrease. However, the annual average ambient PM_2.5 concentration would decrease by just 4%. Thus, only marginal population level health benefits would be achieved with these assumed local CO₂ abatement actions.