Development of ambitious and realistic targets to reduce short-lived climate pollutant emissions in nationally determined contributions: case study for Colombia

• Published in: Environmental Research Communications 2024-03, Vol.6 (3), p.35006
• Main Authors: Malley, Christopher S, Pedraza, Jenniffer I, González, Luisa, del Carmen Cabeza, Maria, Gaitan, Mauricio, Melo, John H, Ulloa, Silvia, Kuylenstierna, Johan C I, Haeussling, Seraphine, Lefèvre, Elsa N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Black carbon; Capacity development; Carbon; Carbon dioxide; Case studies; Climate change; Emissions; Global temperatures; green houses gases; Greenhouse gases; Hydrofluorocarbons; Institutions; Long-term planning; Methane; national action planning; national determined contribution; Pollutants; short-lived climate pollutants; Temperature requirements
• ISSN: 2515-7620; 2515-7620
• DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ad2d77

Limiting global temperature increases to below 1.5 °C requires reductions in Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs), like methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which is rarely reflected in targets within Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Colombia’s 2020 NDC is explored as a case study for how Governments can integrate SLCP mitigation targets into climate change commitments. Methane and HFC mitigation contribute approximately 9% of Colombia’s GHG reduction commitment, and a separate target is included to reduce black carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 2014 levels. These targets are shown to be ambitious , due to the inclusion of a new black carbon target, realistic due to the identification of mitigation measures to achieve them, and additional to CO 2 mitigation. Analysis of the planning process establishing these targets emphasises the importance of long-term planning to obtain agreement between coordinating institutions and implementing institutions on the utility of SLCP targets, and capacity-building within national institutions.