THE PROBLEM
Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) are agents that have relatively short lifetime in the atmosphere – a few days to a few decades – and a warming influence on climate. These short-lived climate pollutants are also dangerous air pollutants, responsible for various detrimental impacts on human health, agriculture and ecosystems. Key SLCPs, including methane, black carbon, tropospheric ozone, and many hydrofluorocarbons, are responsible for a substantial fraction of near term climate change, with a particularly large impact in sensitive regions of the world. Science has built a powerful case for action to reduce SLCPs. A UNEP 2011 report shows that fast action to reduce these pollutants could slow down the warming expected by 2050 by as much as 0.5°C. It is estimated this would prevent over two million premature deaths annually and avoid annual crop losses of over 30 million tons. While fast action to mitigate SLCPs could help slow the rate of global warming and avoid exceeding the 2°C target in the near-term, long-term climate protection will only be possible if deep and sustained cuts in carbon dioxide emissions are made quickly.THE SOLUTION
In February 2012, UNEP together with the governments of Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden and the United States, launched the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC): the first global effort to treat SLCPs as an urgent and collective challenge.Through this voluntary effort, governments, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs and civil society are working together to accelerate and scale-up action, catalyze new actions as well as highlight and bolster existing efforts to address SLCPs. All CCAC Partners, which now number over thirty,recognize that the work of the Coalition is complementary to global action to reduce carbon dioxide, in particular efforts under the UNFCCC.
THE IMPACTS
The CCAC Partners have identified seven initiatives for rapid implementation by the Coalition that will ensure fast delivery of scaled-up climate and clean air benefits, including: Reducing Black Carbon Emissions from Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicles and Engines; Mitigating Black Carbon and Other Pollutants from Brick Production; Mitigating SLCPs from the Municipal Solid Waste Sector; Promoting HFC Alternative Technology and Standards; Accelerating Methane and Black Carbon Reductions from Oil and Natural Gas Production; Promoting SLCP National Action Planning (NAPs); and Financing Mitigation of SLCPs. First actions under these initiatives are underway, with the first results expected in March 2013.SUPPORT
The Coalition is growing rapidly. As of November 2012, it had 36 Partners. Financial support for the Coalition comes from Canada, Germany, the European Commission, Norway, Sweden and the United States of America.WEBSITE
SUCCESS STORY
Mitigating black carbon from brick productionThe CCAC identified traditional brick production as an area where substantial emissions reductions can be achieved for black carbon, toxics and other pollutants. Recent studies show that implementing more efficient technologies can result in reductions in pollutant emissions of 10 – 50 per cent, depending on the process, scale and fuel used. In a pilot phase to be completed by March 2013, the Coalition is focusing on raising the profile of emissions of SLCPs from inefficient brick production on national governments’ agendas to catalyze political engagement and action. Public policies to reduce the environmental impacts of artisanal brick production will be examined, and the characteristics of current brick production will be determined for Africa, Asia, and Latin America, covering the technology, fuels, practices and socio-economic conditions.
