Reducing Black Carbon

1. Black carbon is a significant air and climate pollutant resulting from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. It kills thousands of people annually, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Black carbon also causes short-term warming and accelerates the melting of sea ice and glaciers, particularly in the Arctic and Himalayas.
2. More than 70% of black carbon emissions come from the residential and transportation sectors. China and India are the largest emitters, contributing one-third of global emissions. While emissions have decreased in Europe, North America, and China, they have risen in Africa, South Asia, and Central Asia.
3. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) advises significant reductions in black carbon emissions to limit global warming.
4. We can significantly reduce black carbon emissions by urgently implementing clean cooking solutions, retrofitting diesel engines, reducing emissions from the shipping industry, enforcing stringent air quality regulations, and incorporating black carbon reduction in national climate strategies.

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