Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), including methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons, and tropospheric ozone, have become part of climate policy debates. Discussion has revolved around the potential of their mitigation to slow down global warming in the short term and bring about co-benefits, for instance, for air quality and public health. This book provides the first comprehensive analysis of global SLCP law and governance. A diverse array of contributors delves into the science and evolution of the concept of SLCPs, analyses the legal and governance responses developed under various international and transnational arenas, and discusses selected sectoral case studies.
Emission inventories of Short Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP), and especially of Black Carbon are uncertain and not always comparable between countries. Comparable and reliable emission inventories are essential when aiming for efficient strategies and policies for reduced emissions. The overall objective of this project is to improve the Nordic emission inventories of SLCPs. This report presents a summary of results and highlights from four reports produced in the project. The topics cover results from a measurement programme that provided SLCP and PM2.5 emission factors for typical Nordic residential biomass combustion technologies, it covers emission projections and efficient measures to reduce emissions of SLCPs beyond current projections, and also presents results from investigating the potentials for reducing the health and climate impacts of residential biomass combustion.
In the future residential biomass combustion and transport will be important sources for emissions to air of black carbon (BC), as will agriculture and waste management for emissions of methane (CH4). Measures to abate emissions of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP) are to varying degrees already in place in the Nordic countries. To reduce emissions beyond current emission projections, additional measures are required. Both technical measures, such as improved technologies, and non-technical measures, such as promoting behavioral changes favoring reduced emissions are discussed in this report. The overall objective of this project is to improve the Nordic emission inventories of Short Lived Climate Pollutants. This report presents results from the third and final phase of the project, an assessment of efficient measures to reduce emissions of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP) in the Nordic countries.
We have a decade or less to radically slow global warming before we risk hitting irreversible tipping points that will lock in catastrophic climate change. The good news is that we know how to slow global warming enough to avert disaster. Cut Super Climate Pollutants Now! explains how a 10-year sprint to cut short-lived “super climate pollutants” -- primarily HFC refrigerants, black carbon (soot), and methane -- can cut the rate of global warming in half, so we can stay in the race to net zero climate emissions by 2050.
Nordic Ministers of Environment adopted in March 2012 the "Svalbard Declaration" with decisions to reduce the negative impacts of the climate changes and air pollution caused by the emission of the so-called Short-lived Climate Forcers (SLCFs) such as black carbon (soot) and methane. Along with CO2, they are the main reasons why the ice in the Arctic now is melting rapidly. At a workshop organised by the Nordic Group on Climate and Air Quality in June 2012 researchers and policy-makers discussed the recent scientific findings, the national experiences with emission inventories, identification of cost-effective measures to cut emissions and the drawing up of national action plans as well as the development in the field of international co-operation on SLCFs. The report presents policy recommendations, conclusions and recommendations on scientific research and monitoring.
Global climate policy is at a crossroads. Global climate policy-makers have long concentrated on cutting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. But climate scientists are now rallying around a new focus: gritty black carbon (common soot), methane, and other Short-Lived Climate Pollutants. These pollutants have short lifespans and won't affect the temperature of the globe a century from now, the way CO2 will. But SLCPs certainly make a difference in terms of today's temperatures and, more immediately important, human health. Despite this, SLCPs have been either ignored or calculated in scientifically flawed ways for some 20 years. This book lays out recent rethinking and proposes new strategies for global climate policy.
According to several commenters, the encouraging figures included in the recently released Chinese Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) should be regarded as the latest battle in the “pollution war” - using the words by Premier Li Keqiang - declared by China in recent years. Protecting climate would be mainly driven by the national interest in reducing the toxic air pollution levels resulting from the rapid coal-driven economic growth and safeguarding public health, food, water and energy supply. It is widely acknowledged that acting on the so-called Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) can both provide important climate and societal benefits in the near-term. In this article, we review the most recent literature on SLCPs mitigation by focusing especially on its implication for achieving the 2°C target, and with the aim of complementing and directing policy debate accordingly with the latest scientific evidence.
The Arctic is a vital region that helps preserve the balance of the global climate. The Arctic environment is particularly sensitive to short-lived climate pollutants, including black carbon, due to their strong warming effect.
The Arctic is a vital region that helps preserve the balance of the global climate. The Arctic environment is particularly sensitive to short-lived climate pollutants, such as black carbon, which is the most light-absorbing component of particulate matter. Ambitious policy action to reduce air pollution would therefore reduce the negative environmental, health and economic impacts of air pollution, while slowing down climate change by reducing emissions of short-lived climate pollutants.Due to their proximity to the Arctic region, a central role in reducing air pollution in the Arctic is played by Arctic Council countries, namely Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden, and the United States. Arctic Council countries have affirmed their support to collectively bring black carbon emissions down by 25-33% by 2025 from 2013 levels. Ambitious policy action to reduce air pollution in Arctic Council countries would help achieve this target.This paper presents a quantitative assessment of the environmental, health and economic consequences of ambitious policy action to reduce air pollution in Arctic Council countries. The scenario analysis is based on a suite of modelling tools to project the impacts of increasingly ambitious policies up to 2050. The paper compares a business-as-usual scenario with policy scenarios in which Arctic Council countries, and other regional groupings, adopt the best available techniques to reduce air pollutant emissions, including end-of-pipe technologies, the use of cleaner fuels, and measures to reduce emissions in the agricultural sector.The modelling shows that these policies could substantially curb emissions of several air pollutants, including bringing black carbon emissions well below the collective target. The benefits would include better air quality, and reductions in air pollution-related premature deaths and illnesses. The costs of achieving the emission reductions would be offset by the economic benefits resulting from improved human and environmental health.
