Environmental control: input versus output

Environmental control is an attempt to reduce undesirable production outputs. As a result of threats of climate change, a restriction on input in the form of fuels was recently added at a district-heating plant in Sweden. Conversion was sanctioned by a time limit. This approach emerged after the applicant had completed the mandatory consultations with the authorities before sending in the formal application for a changed operation. It was presented as a breakthrough, but appearances are somewhat deceptive. Energy companies have focused on input all along given the way emission levels and taxes are defined in practice. Unexpected interventions, like this one, risk weakening time limits. Instead of taking action according to the latest decision, applicants may await future turns in the process. (author)