The UN environmental programme have this week made an announcement that a very promising approach for tackling global warming would for governments to aggressively combat what is called ‘ black carbon’ from industry and the incomplete burning of fossil fuels and would provide rapid change. The study says that a focused approach to reduce black carbon emissions around the world could provide dramatic impacts to the overall emission problems which are viewed as the leading cause of climate change.

Black carbon along with methane and ground level ozone are primarily caused by the soot and gases from partial burning wood and fossil fuels. Most measurements by governments to track these levels are related to current air quality statistics and while they only reside in the atmosphere for a short spell the UN report states that the impact is to warming and health is significant.

According to the study these pollutants may be contributing in the vicinity of 25-30% of the factors that result in climate change due to emissions, the report goes on to explain that beyond the climactic impacts deep dividends would be realised in health benefits and farming. Achim Steiner the head of the UNEP added:

“A small number of emission reduction measures … offer dramatic public health, agricultural, economic and environmental benefits,”

Hong Kong shrouded in smog

These are early days for what could be a breakthrough study and more data relating to the impact of black carbon will now be gathered. In turn we can expect to see the UN working with governments to assess just how this information can be used in tangible and uniform ways to combat these emissions. The report explains that the key contributors to the targeted emissions include wood-burning stoves and diesel cars/engines that are not well maintained. In addition the methane is primarily the result of emissions originating from treatment facilities for oil, coal and waste. Needless to say ground ozone is primarily caused by our ever increasing levels of traffic. The potential for crop and health improvements are also very significant with agricultural yields being routienly reduced due to these pollutants in the atmosphere.

While the study sheds new light it also demonstrates that a two pronged approach to global warming needs to be better understood, implemented and managed. A rapid reduction in these emissions would offer short term and seasonal benefits that could be seen and measured quite rapidly but the underlying problem of C02 emissions is still the primary contributor. Seeing how governments and the UN juggle these factors to redevelop standards will be as interesting as it is important.

The full release has been published on the UNEP website which is linked here.