Why have a NOx and SOx discussion?

Nitrogen and sulphur oxides have alarming depositions in the EU. The environmental problem has been defined and targeted with national emission ceilings stated in the NEC Directive. Many member states do not meet the NEC targets and national measures are due. Against the traditional command-and-control regulatory approach, an alternative market based mechanism is proposed to achieve the same environmental targets but with much lesser costs and higher flexibility for the industries. The land-based industry should therefore engage themselves in order to influence the development and design of the Emission Trading Scheme for NOx and SOx in Europe.