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ID: 186007

Implementing the Minamata Convention on Mercury : Will China Deliver? / Heggelund, Gørild

Heggelund, Gørild	Journal Article
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Summary/Abstract

China has undertaken a major shift in its position on mercury as an environmental problem over the last decade and a half. It ratified the Minamata Convention (MC) in 2016 and by doing so has committed to implement the treaty objectives. This article asks: How do we explain China's will and ability to implement its MC obligations? There is little systematic knowledge about the main factors underlying implementation of international mercury objectives in China, hence this article contributes new research on this important topic. We examine the implementation process, focusing on the coal sector and differentiate between indirect effects from other policies and direct efforts to implement obligations. We find that China has moved toward stricter regulation of mercury emissions and direct implementation of the Minamata Convention in the coal sector. However, our study shows that local implementation capacity needs improvement.

Key Words

China ; Policy Implementation ; Environmental Policies ; Mercury ; Minamata Convention

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ID: 125816

Reliability in the U.S. electricity industry under new environm / Burtraw, Dallas; Palmer, Karen; Paul, Anthony; Beasley, Blair

Paul, Anthony	Journal Article
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2013.

Summary/Abstract

Implementation of new environmental regulations of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury in the U.S. electricity industry has triggered concerns about system reliability. Results from a national electricity market simulation model suggest that these regulations lead to little change in generation capacity and are unlikely to create the shock to the system that some anticipate. Large costs of investments in pollution controls are partially offset by a lower cost burden for tradable emissions allowances. The combined effects result in a 1 percent increase in national average retail electricity prices. In 2020 producers pay approximately 30 percent and consumers pay approximately 70 percent of the total costs of the regulations, which equal between $6.6 and $7.1 billion in 2020 (real 2009$). The regulation leads to substantial reductions in emissions of mercury and sulfur dioxide from the electricity sector.

Key Words

Sulfur Dioxide ; Electric System Reliability ; Mercury

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