Journal of Science Policy & Governance
​Volume 19, Issue 01 | November 01, 2021

Policy Analysis: Analyzing the Effectiveness of Environmental Policies to Reduce Citizens’ Exposure to Air Pollution

Leticia Abarca Velencoso
Carlos III of Madrid University, School of International Studies and Political Science, Madrid, Spain

Corresponding author: l.abarca.velencoso@gmail.com
Keywords: citizen exposure to air pollution; PM2.5; environmental policy; OECD; innovation; feed-in tariffs; energy; green fiscal policy.​

Executive Summary

Exposure to air pollution causes significant damage to health, which leads to large economic and social welfare losses. As a result, the urgency of reducing PM2.5 levels, the main indicator of citizens’ exposure to air pollution, is gaining importance. PM2.5 is a mixture of solid and liquid particles, smaller than 2.5 micrometers, that are suspended in the air. Most literature on the analysis of environmental policies is measured exclusively in CO2 targets, excluding other measurements of air pollution, and failing to analyze the effectiveness of those policies in terms of citizen exposure to air pollution. This paper reviews relevant literature and offers approaches to reducing citizens’ exposure to air pollution by comparing an Ordinary Least Square (OLS) analysis on the effectiveness of environmental policies to reduce PM2.5 emissions in thirty-three OECD countries between 1990 and 2012, grouped into R&D investment policies, economic incentive policies, and fiscal policies. Moreover, this article presents evidence that not all environmental policies are equally effective at minimizing PM2.5 and highlights successful innovation and economic incentive policies that create opportunities to invest or develop alternative forms of production. In summary, state investment policies in R&D show positive but limited results, university-industry research partnerships show highly positive indirect effects on PM2.5 levels; fiscal policies have counterproductive effects, and among economic incentive policies, only feed-in tariffs present an actual opportunity to reduce PM2.5 emissions. The empirical discoveries presented here diversify the research on environmental policies and have profound political implications. Therefore, this study provides a useful tool for environmental policymakers that aim to cut air pollution levels and reduce the human, social and economic consequences.

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Background header image photo: The Day The Sun Didn't Rise flickr photo by Christopher.Michel shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
Leticia Abarca Velencoso is a political scientist with strong focus on Regional, Rural and Climate international policy. She studied a dual Bachelor in Political Science and International Studies in the Carlos III of Madrid University, spending several periods in other universities as Riga Stradins University and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. Due to her academic background, she received the Award of Academic Excellence of the Community of Madrid in 2020. Additionally, she has also written several articles on international issues related to environmental policy and she is currently studying a Master on Economy of the European Union at UNED. In the last year, she also trained on European project management in the University of Valencia and works as a Project Manager conducting programs on sustainable development for rural and green protected areas.
 
Acknowledgements
The author would like to first thanks to the Carlos III University’s professors that inspired her during the university period and that have contributed with their expertise to her academic pathway. Additionally, she would like to thank her parents for their tireless support and Willian for sharing with her his passion for science.​

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