Copenhagen: Practical Steps to Reduce Warming
I worry that while governments are trying to move forward new language for a treaty – a text from the Danish government was just released that has been roundly criticized by delegates from developing countries – we are losing time to move forward real initiatives that will actually reduce warming.
For example, governments can agree now to take serious action to reduce “short-lived climate forcers.” These pollutants include black carbon (soot), methane, and tropospheric ozone. These pollutants are having a large impact on the warming of the Arctic and could be causing the Arctic to warm faster than originally predicted.
Arctic nations have already agreed to take action to reduce these pollutants. Action on pollutants like black carbon is a “win-win” for all involved. Reduction in black carbon provides public health benefits, can encourage economic stimulus, and can help us “buy time” for the Arctic while we reduce carbon dioxide levels. Taking action on short-lived climate forcers like black carbon does not reduce our need to act on CO2 emissions. We need to do both. But acting on black carbon now can help provide the time we need to reduce CO2 emissions.
One significant source of black carbon in the Arctic is agricultural burning in Russia (see this report from Clean Air Task Force for more information: http://www.catf.us/publications/view/99). We’re working with our environmental partners in Siberia and the Russian Far East to come up with a plan to reduce agricultural burning and the associated black carbon emissions that drift up into the Arctic. This is one practical step we can take, now, while we wait for the governments to come to agreement. Stay tuned for more information about this important initiative!
Tags: climate change, environment, Global Warming, government agency, Russia
