UNECE has joined a coalition of international partners working to reap the benefits of addressing air pollution and climate change at the same time. The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), which was established in 2012 under the auspices of UNEP to promote action on reducing black carbon, methane, ozone and other target substances, now has more than 100 partners all around the world.
Known as short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) because of their strong warming potential and short atmospheric lifetime, these target substances can be reduced quickly after emissions are cut, avoiding further warming in the near term. At the same time, many of these substances contribute to air pollution, causing severe effects on health and the environment. Taking action to mitigate SLCPs therefore helps improve air quality while at the same time providing climate co-benefits.
At a Working Group meeting in Paris (8–9 September), CCAC welcomed UNECE to the Coalition. By joining the Coalition, UNECE gains access to a broad network of experts and partners. Drawing on its long-standing expertise, UNECE will contribute through exchanges of experiences, knowledge and best practices, particularly as they relate to the work under the Committee on Sustainable Energy and the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, including its amended Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone (Gothenburg Protocol). The Gothenburg Protocol is the first legally binding agreement containing obligations to reduce the broader spectrum of SLCPs, notably fine particulate matter (PM2.5), including black carbon and ground-level ozone precursors: nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. In addition, under the Committee on Sustainable Energy, UNECE also promotes access to affordable and clean energy as well as methane management from extractive industries.