BALTIC SEAENVIRONMENT PROCEEDINGS No. 59 - Helcom

- How well does the approach implement the Polluter-Pays-
Principle?
- How well does the approach encourage polluters to carry out
their own environmental protection measures?
- How simple and flexible are the policy instruments, and how
easy are they to manage?
- How fair is the approach to different polluters?
- Does the approach allow sufficient account to be taken of
individual features and circumstances?
- What will be the effect on Finland's competitiveness
abroad?
The aim of economic instruments is to persuade both polluters
and consumers voluntarily to choose environmentally acceptable
options. The most important economic instruments include:
1)
Charges and taxes
- emission charges (not in use)
- user charges (waste management, wastewater charge)
- product charges or taxes (package taxes, oil charges)
- excise tax (fuel tax)
- administrative charges (pesticide charge)
- scaled taxation (leaded/unleaded petrol)
- turnover tax (treatment of environmental protection
investment under taxation)
2)
Financial assistance
- assistance for investments (interest subsidies and grants)
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