Black carbon emissions should be cut but are not a climate 'quick fix' solution
Tue 29 June 2010
View all news
A senior EU official has told the European Parliament that reducing emissions of black carbon, or soot, should be pursued as a 'no regret' policy of benefit to both climate and human health but that it should not distract from cutting CO2.
ENDS reports that studies have shown that black carbon is second only to CO2 as a contributor to global warming, but it has an atmospheric lifespan of weeks rather than years. It is primarily emitted by developing countries, which presents a political problem in terms of global climate negotiations. Niels Ladefoged of the European Commission's climate department said that developed countries risk being accused of trying to shift the problem to the developing world.
Nick Nuttall, spokesman for the UN environment programme, suggested that if it could be more accurately measured in future, black carbon could form part of a global climate deal via a mechanism whereby rich countries pay poor countries to reduce their emissions, such as a REDD+-type mechanism or even the carbon market.
Related Links
< Back to news list