Environmental inequality and population exposure to air pollution in Denmark

Steen Solvang Jensen, Anne Jensen, Morten Mørkbak, Line Block Hansen, Jørgen Brandt, Jesper H. Christensen, Matthias Ketzel and Ole Hertel

Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy, 2024, vol. 13, issue 2, 129-143

Abstract: This study examines the environmental inequality, which is associated with air pollution in Denmark, by modelling street concentrations at addresses of all households in Denmark, and correlating the findings on key air quality pollutants to individual household income. The study furthermore analyses the relative distribution of exposure to risks between and within different commuting areas in Denmark. The findings are discussed in relation to comparable findings in the international literature on environmental inequity and inequality of exposure to environmental risks. Overall, the study showed limited environmental inequality and weak correlations between air pollution exposure and household income in Denmark thereby deviating from most findings in the international peer literature that finds strong correlations. Likely explanations for the weak correlations may be found in strict Danish environmental regulation that reduces overall exposure to the population, and Danish laws prohibit building residential areas nearby factories or building factories nearby residential areas as part of zoning in urban planning. Also, a relatively equal income distribution in Denmark, and the relation between the geographic distribution of air pollution and income groups where low-income groups do not systematically live in polluted areas and high-income groups in less polluted areas also add to the explanation. Key policy highlightsThe first study to examine Danish environmental inequality associated with air pollution exposure at street level.Modelled air quality street concentrations at all residential addresses in Denmark.Analyses of environmental inequality between and within different commuting areas.Very limited environmental inequality was found between air pollution exposure and household income that deviates from most findings in the international peer literature.A better knowledge foundation on environmental inequality could inform future policy making to reduce environmental inequality.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1080/21606544.2023.2225472

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