Environmental control: Input versus output

Environmental control is an attempt to reduce undesirable production output s. 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. Con version was sanctioned by a time limit. This approach emerged after the app licant had completed the mandatory consultations with the authorities befor e sending in the formal application for a changed operation. It was present ed as a breakthrough, but appearances are somewhat deceptive. Energy compan ies have focused on input all along given the way emission levels and taxes are defined in practice. Unexpected interventions, like this one, risk wea kening time limits. Instead of taking action according to the latest decisi on, applicants may await future turns in the process.