Multilateral Efforts to Reduce Black Carbon Emissions: A Lifeline for the Warming Arctic?

Rapid reductions in emissions of the short‐lived climate forcers black carbon, tropospheric ozone and methane have been identified as an effective strategy to slow rapid warming and melting in the Arctic and other glaciated areas in the near‐term, and avert abrupt, irreversible changes while strateg...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review of European Community & international environmental law 2011-04, Vol.20 (1), p.3-10
Main Authors: Rosenthal, Erika, Watson, Robert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air Pollution
Carbon
Climate change
Congresses and Conventions
Emissions
Emissions control
Environmental regulations
Global warming
Leadership
Multilateralism
Pollution control
Residence
Studies
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Summary:Rapid reductions in emissions of the short‐lived climate forcers black carbon, tropospheric ozone and methane have been identified as an effective strategy to slow rapid warming and melting in the Arctic and other glaciated areas in the near‐term, and avert abrupt, irreversible changes while strategies to reduce emissions of CO2 are implemented to limit long‐term consequences. Black carbon is a component of fine particulate matter, a traditional air pollutant with significant health impacts; it has a short atmospheric residence time of about a week, thus emissions reductions provide rapid climate benefit. This article analyses the mitigation approaches that are being discussed in multilateral fora including the Arctic Council, the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution and the International Maritime Organization. Arctic climate dynamics will affect climate globally, which calls for leadership from Arctic nations to spur faster action to abate emissions.
ISSN:0962-8797
2050-0386
1467-9388
2050-0394
DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9388.2011.00705.x