SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANTS (SLCP’S) SOURCES, ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES. (BLACK-CARBON) By: Philile Chester WHAT ARE SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANTS? • Also called SLCP’s • They are a group of greenhouse gases and air pollutants that have near-term impact on climate and can affect air quality (Climate and Clean Air Coalition, 2018). • Often overlooked. • Have both natural and man-made sources. • Include Black-carbon, methane, hydrofluorocarbons (HFC’s) and tropospheric ozone. • Will discuss black-carbon in this presentation. BLACK CARBON • Also known as soot – is a fine black or brown powder that can be slightly sticky. • It is a particulate matter co-emitted into the atmosphere along with mixtures of other climate pollutants (Center for Climate Energy Solution, 2010). • It is also a potent greenhouse gas that has warming effects second to carbon dioxide. • It is formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, wood and other fuels. • It can be seen on surfaces e.g. cook stoves, chimneys and exhaust pipes. • It has a lifetime of average 4-12 days after being released into the atmosphere. SOURCES OF BLACK CARBON • Emissions are more popular in developing countries where air quality is not regulated. • The top 3 contributors are Asia, Africa and Latin America (88% of global black-carbon emissions). Sources are: - Biomass burning – residential heating and cooking using solid fuel, other fuels - Wildland fires – can be natural or man-made. • Developing countries contribute less emissions as air quality is regulated, however their main sources of emissions are: - burning fossil fuels from diesel engines - Industrial processes - Agricultural waste – seasonal burning of farms to clear land SOURCES OF BLACK CARBON CONTD. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF BLACK CARBON • Black carbon is a significant contributor to global warming. • It is the second largest contributor after carbon dioxide. • It has a warming effect on the climate that is 460-1,500 times stronger than CO2 per unit of mass (Climate and Clean Air Coalition, 2018). • It absorbs solar radiation and converts it to heat, thus exacerbating the greenhouse effect. • It causes changes in rainfall patterns by altering regional circulations. • In the Arctic, it settles on ice and snow creating an insulator layer. This accelerates the melting of the cryosphere. • Climatic patterns then change, affecting ecosystems and livelihoods of indigenous people. The Himalayas are the most vulnerable to melting. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS CONTD. • They have adverse effects on human health. • Their small diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less (smaller than a grain of salt) allows them to penetrate into the deepest regions of the lungs and are transported into the blood stream (Climate and Clean Air Coalition, 2018). • It is a component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) which causes premature death in adults with heart & lung diseases, strokes, heart attacks, chronic respiratory disease such as bronchitis, aggravated asthma, and other cardio-respiratory symptoms. • It also causes premature death in children with acute lower respiratory infections such as pneumonia. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS CONTD. • It also has impacts on vegetation and ecosystem. • It settles on plant leaves and increases the plants temperatures. • It dims the sunlight that reaches the earth. • The tiny particles may also be absorbed into the plants internal system, accumulating inside and causing various diseases/mutations of the plant. • Modifies rainfall patterns. MITIGATION OF BLACK CARBON • Reduction of black carbon emissions is critical to mitigating global climate change. • Strategies can be sector specific • For the transport sector we can reduce emissions from diesel engines through the use of cleaner fuels, such as biodiesel, and the installation of particulate filters on all vehicles. • We can also eliminate high-emitting diesel vehicles from the roads • In the industrial sector, improve the efficiency of cook stoves by using cleaner stoves and switching from traditional to vertical shaft brick kilns • We can reduce emissions from in our homes by doing away with burning of wood and coal and switch cleaner fuels i.e. liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or electricity. MITIGATIONS CONTD. • Reduce emissions from open burning of biomass and agricultural waste through improved land management practices, i.e. controlled burning and the use of fire-retardant materials. • Capture and improve oil flaring and gas production • Adopt policy instruments that can encourage sectors to reduce emissions, i.e. the carbon tax • Government to offer incentives to business that employ measures to reduce emissions e.g. subsidies • Lastly, running educational campaigns to raise awareness to consumers about sustainable practices, could reduce their energy demand and encourage use of cleaner sources of energy (solar). END. THANK YOU!
