|
|
First rumblings of a seismic shift? - First optional event on black carbon at EU parliamentJun 22, 2010 | Posted by David Holyoake Tagged in: Untagged |
|
I put to you that it is very difficult to overlook the following two implications from recent climate science:
· Greenhouse gases are not the only anthropogenic emissions that strongly interfere with the global and regional climate
· We are already in the danger zone, and given that CO2 lives in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, CO2 reductions alone are very unlikely to help us avoid near-term tipping points in the earth’s thermostat
The first is entirely uncontroversial and is consistent with the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which estimated black carbon to be a significant warming particle, unlike other aerosols, such as sulphites, which exert a cooling effect. According to the IPCC, black carbon contributes around 9% of the radiative forcing the planet is currently experiencing. Since the release of these IPPC estimates in 2007, a number of other studies estimate it to be responsible for up to 40 per cent of net global warming, with its regional effects being particularly devastating, exacerbating the melting of the arctic ice sheet by reducing albedo. The second proposition is also very hard to ignore, particularly in light of various studies inferring from IPCC data that that the estimated ‘committed warming’ (that is, the warming already in the system) to be 2.4 degrees, (Ramanathan and Xu 2010) with 1.1 degrees of this currently being masked or counteracted by the cooling effect global air pollution such as sulphites, which reflect radiation. As the world makes necessary progress towards reducing sulphites, we ‘unmask’ a portion of this 1.1 degrees.
So, why then are these two implications not reflected in EU climate policy? Good question. Today’s optional event at the EU parliament will be the first exposition of this issue among the EU institutions, despite the fact black carbon has been on the US climate agenda for at least three years. ClientEarth will be attending, so watch this space for a report of the results, and the insight gleaned into the Commission’s early position on this issue.
ClientEarth will be working to ensure two essential shifts in EU climate policy between now and 2012: 1) expand the conceptual approach to climate mitigation beyond greenhouse gases to include aerosols such as black carbon, and 2) working to ensure that near-term climate change is addressed, and this by necessity requires addressing climate forces in addition to CO2. Short lived climate forcers are particularly attractive targets to achieve near term climate mitigation. The short lifespan of black carbon and ground level ozone means they are not well mixed in the atmosphere and exert regional warming. Targeting sources that reach and warm the arctic, for example, is often referred to as an intelligent way to reduce climate sensitivity and delay the passing of tipping points. Owing to their short lifespan, we have the ability to remove these emissions from the atmosphere quickly, with corresponding reductions in temperature increases. These short lived substances include HCFs, black carbon, ground level ozone precursors and methane. These actions must be in addition to strong action on CO2, which remains the most important culprit of global warming.
This will represent a ‘gear change’ in the conceptual approach to climate mitigation, one that is that is entirely science driven, and would follow on the heels of early international movement. The latest version of the proposed US climate legislation (Kerry-Lierberman Bill 2010) contains a section entitled ‘rapid climate mitigation’ including measures to address black carbon and methane. The Arctic Council, UNECE have all taken early steps on address or investigate black carbon. At the member state level, ClientEarth has been advising member state governments and producing drafting advice for the inclusion of black carbon in domestic climate legislative frameworks.
We call on the EU institutions to initiate open public debate on these issues. It is unacceptable that in 2010, the Commission has placed nothing in the public domain on black carbon or rapid climate mitigation. The upcoming revisions to EU climate policy, including the review of the 6th Environmental Action Programme and development of the 7th, must commit to a legislative package on near term climate mitigation, to complement long term reductions of CO2. As I have previously written on this blog, immediate action on short lived climate forcers offers a distinct glimmer of hope - spread the word!!
