* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Short-lived climate pollutants: The scientific case for fast policy action Joseph Alcamo
General circulation model wikipedia , lookup
Instrumental temperature record wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming on human health wikipedia , lookup
Global warming hiatus wikipedia , lookup
2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference wikipedia , lookup
Economics of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Global warming controversy wikipedia , lookup
Climate change mitigation wikipedia , lookup
Fred Singer wikipedia , lookup
German Climate Action Plan 2050 wikipedia , lookup
Climate-friendly gardening wikipedia , lookup
Climate change and agriculture wikipedia , lookup
Media coverage of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming on humans wikipedia , lookup
Climate engineering wikipedia , lookup
Climate governance wikipedia , lookup
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change wikipedia , lookup
Attribution of recent climate change wikipedia , lookup
Low-carbon economy wikipedia , lookup
Scientific opinion on climate change wikipedia , lookup
Climate change and poverty wikipedia , lookup
Climate change in the United States wikipedia , lookup
Global warming wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming on Australia wikipedia , lookup
Climate change in Canada wikipedia , lookup
Surveys of scientists' views on climate change wikipedia , lookup
Citizens' Climate Lobby wikipedia , lookup
Solar radiation management wikipedia , lookup
Mitigation of global warming in Australia wikipedia , lookup
Climate change, industry and society wikipedia , lookup
Public opinion on global warming wikipedia , lookup
Politics of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme wikipedia , lookup
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report wikipedia , lookup
Short-lived climate pollutants: The scientific case for fast policy action Joseph Alcamo Chief Scientist, UNEP Air pollution: unfinished business on the sustainable development agenda Outdoor air pollution Progress towards global environmental goals (UNEP GEO-5) “Some progress” Despite some progress, outdoor air pollution continues to have serious impacts on the environment & human health. About 1.3 (3.7?) million premature deaths each year due to outside air pollution. Indoor air pollution “little or no progress” “Indoor air pollution from particulate matter continues to have major health impacts, particularly on women and children.” • 3 billion people cook and heat using open fires and leaky stoves burning biomass and coal. • Around 2 million people die each year prematurely from illness attributable to indoor air pollution Source: WHO statistics What are short-lived climate pollutants? Short-lived climate pollutants: Cause global warming & relatively short-lived in the atmosphere. Black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) Multiple benefits of reducing short-lived climate pollutants: • Reduce air pollution - Protect health and crops • Slow down near-term global warming, reduce regional impacts of climate change A package of 16 measures can substantially reduce black carbon + methane emissions and achieve multiple benefits Three UNEP studies with scientific community 1. “Near Term Climate Protection and Clean Air Benefits” 2. “Global Assessment of Black Carbon and Tropospheric Ozone”. 3. “HFCs: Critical Link in Protecting Climate and the Ozone Layer Emission reductions in 2030 (rel. to BAU) Methane : - 40% Black carbon : - 80% Black carbon measures • Improved stoves • Upgraded brick kilns • Particle filters for diesel vehicles Methane measures • Recovery from fossil fuel production (oil & gas production; coal mines) • Waste / landfill management No technical breakthroughs. These measures already implemented in many countries Cost-effective How Achieve Action against short lived climate pollutants reduces air pollution & saves lives Premature mortalities avoided in 2030 thousands/year East Asia + Pacific 750 thousand deaths/yr Africa 200 thousand deaths/yr S, W, & Central Asia 1.15 million deaths/yr Reducing black carbon protects public health Avoided premature mortalities (2030) from outdoor air pollution Total lives saved globally = 2.4 million / year From UNEP (2011) 1.9 Action against short lived climate pollutants reduces air pollution & saves lives Premature mortalities avoided Ban open burning Particle filters Reducing black carbon protects public health Avoided premature mortalities (2030) from outdoor air pollution Total lives saved globally = 2.4 million / year Eliminate high-emission vehicles Upgrade cookstoves From UNEP (2011) 1.9 Action against short-lived climate pollutants reduces crop damage Positive impact of methane + black carbon reduction measures on reducing ozone damage to crops Avoided crop damage in 2030 (4 crops): Regional examples: North America + Europe: 4.8 million tonnes /year E Asia, Pacific: 9.7 million tonnes /year Total worldwide : 32 million tonnes / year Action against short-lived climate pollutants slows down global warming Slowing down near term global warming How much? 16 measures reduce global warming 0.4 - 0.5 oC (2010 - 2050) relative to reference scenario almost halving temperature rise Glacier lake outburst floods Why slow down near term global warming? • Bursting glacier lakes • Increasing heat waves • Melting arctic land ice, ice caps, sea level rise, accelerating climate change Cannot substitute for CO2 reductions Need both … 1. Reducing short-lived climate pollutants: slows down near-term global warming 2. CO2 reductions for long term climate protection How much does it cost? Costs of implementing 16 measures 50% of black carbon and methane emission reductions: Low cost or no-cost Recovery of methane, better fuel efficiency Black carbon measures • Improved stoves • Upgraded brick kilns • Particle filters for diesel vehicles Methane measures • Recovery from fossil fuel production (coal mines; gas distribution) • Waste / landfill management Action against short-lived climate pollutants avoids the build-up of new greenhouse gases & protects ozone layer To protect ozone layer: Montreal Protocol Phase out of CFCs + other ozone-depleting substances Bonus of phase-out: Substantial reduction of greenhouse gases Replacement chemical: HFCs - Ozone friendly - But powerful greenhouse gas - Rapid build-up in atmosphere - Average atmosph. lifetime ~ 15 yrs. Carbon dioxide equivalent emissions of ozone depleting gases and their replacements CFCs increasing CFCs phase out HFCs phase in Sources: UNEP 2011; Velders et al. 2012 Science Action against short-lived climate pollutants avoids the build-up of new greenhouse gases & protects ozone layer Avoiding build-up of HFCs in atmosphere: Alternatives to HFCs 1. HFCs with very short-lifetime, with low Global Warming Potential 2. Alternative chemicals (substitutes for HFCs) 3. Doing things differently (eliminating need for HFCs or similar chemicals) Actions on the National, Regional and Global Scales Why national action? • Most health benefits close to emission sources; local sustainable development. • Fast action on obvious emission sources, National Action Plans Why regional action? • Reduce regional-scale pollution, e.g. black carbon transported long distances to Himalayas, Arctic • Integrate abatement of black carbon and methane into existing/new regional air pollution agreements Why global action? • Control international emission sources Work within existing treaties: e.g. Reduce black carbon emissions through MARPOL? • Support and catalyze national and regional action – awareness raising, financing, technical assistance Climate and Clean Air Coalition Political action now: the Coalition Coalition for Climate and Clean Air February, 2012: 6 countries + UNEP End 2012: 27 countries (+EU) + 23 non-state partners Initiatives 1.Reducing Black Carbon Emissions from Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicles and Engines 2.Mitigating Black Carbon and Other Pollutants from Brick Production 3.Mitigating SLCPs from the Municipal Solid Waste Sector 4.Promoting HFC Alternative Technology and Standards 5.Accelerating Methane and Black Carbon Reductions from Oil and Natural Gas Production Conclusions Acting on short-lived climate pollutants ... Reduces major public health danger & important air pollutant – black carbon / particulate matter – developing country priority Slows global warming in near-term by nearly one-half (not replace CO2 reductions) Prevents replacements (HFCs) for ozone depleting substances from becoming a climate change problem Emission reductions can be cost-effective Uncertainties remain, but clear public health benefits Effective to act on all scales: national, regional and global scales. Reducing short-lived climate pollutants ... ... An important convergence of interests climate change, air pollution, ozone depletion ... A big advancement in sustainable development