Climate Change and Air Quality—Measures with Co-Benefits in China

Abstract

Climate Changeand Air Quality-Measures with Co-Benefits in CHINA A lthough the Kyoto Protocol is an important step, its impact on global warming, seen in isolation, will be small. Broader participation and deeper cuts in greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions are essential for any post-Kyoto agreement to have a significant effect. Particularly important are the prospects for curbing GHG emissions in large developing countries, such as China and India, whose CO 2 emissions are projected to grow dramatically over the next few decades. Here we focus on China, which is second only to the U.S. in CO 2 emissions (although the per capita emissions are less than one-sixth of those of the U.S.) and which is expected to become the largest single emitter of GHGs in the coming decades. Several studies carried out in China over the past 5-10 years, including our own work, have found that many measures aimed primarily at reducing local air pollution decrease GHG emissions as a cobenefit. Conversely, a range of CO 2 -mitigating policies entail reductions in air pollution as a co-benefit. This implies that the real costs of climate policies in China may be lower than anticipated by the government. In this article, we describe the links between climate change and air-quality issues as well as the health and environmental benefits accruing from alternative measures and policies for CO 2 mitigation in China. We argue that the tremendous potential to cut GHG emissions while simultaneously reducing air pollution should make cooperation on climatecontrol strategies more attractive to China and other countries in a similar position. Controls aimed atreducing greenhouse-gas emissions also decrease air pollution.

Parameterization of black carbon aging in the OsloCTM2 and implications for regional transport to the Arctic

“…These results agree well with other studies Vignati et al, 2010). Since the climate impact of BC aerosols depends on their vertical location, it is important to both measure and model the vertical distribution of BC properly (Ban-Weiss et al, 2011;Koch and Del Genio, 2010). Comparison with vertical profiles shows that the model generally overestimates the BC concentration, especially at higher altitudes.…”

“…The climate effects of BC particles depend on their altitude in the atmosphere (Ban-Weiss et al, 2011;Johnson et al, 2004;Koch and Del Genio, 2010;Samset and Myhre, 2011) and it is important to properly measure and model the vertical distribution. BC aerosols at high altitudes are more likely to be above clouds and thus have a stronger direct effect due to cloud reflection from below Satheesh, 2002).…”

“…BC can contribute to temperature change through several mechanisms; absorption of direct and reflected solar radiation Jacobson, 2002;Myhre et al, 2009;Schulz et al, 2006;Skeie et al, 2011), impacts on cloud cover and formation (Ackerman et al, 2000;Cook and Highwood, 2004;Johnson et al, 2004;Koch et al, 2011;Koren et al, 2004;Liu et al, 2009;Penner et al, 2009) and reduction of the surface albedo when deposited on snow and ice (Clarke and Noone, 1985;Flanner et al, 2009;Flanner et al, 2007;Hansen and Nazarenko, 2003;Jacobson, 2004;Rypdal et al, 2009b;Warren and Wiscombe, 1980) The short atmospheric lifetime of BC means that emission reductions will have a rapid response and reduction of BC emissions may be an efficient way of slowing down global warming, especially at high latitudes Bond and Sun, 2005;Hansen et al, 2000;Jacobson, 2002;Kopp and Mauzerall, 2010;Quinn et al, 2008). Such reductions would also have significant co-benefits for air pollution and health (Aunan et al, 2006;Jacobson, 2010;Rypdal et al, 2009a). The implementation of an efficient policy aimed at BC, which is currently not regulated under any global agreements, requires knowledge of where measures are economically and politically most feasible and where the effect on climate is most beneficial (Rypdal et al, 2009b).…”

Understanding the Causality between Carbon Dioxide Emission, Fossil Energy Consumption and Economic Growth in Developed Countries: An Empirical Study

“…Concerning climate change mitigation and adaption, the Kyoto Protocol is a very important step for reducing GHG emissions, and, moreover, broader participation and deeper cuts in GHG emissions are essential for any post-Kyoto agreement [6]. However, the common recognition on reducing GHG emissions from the past several Conferences of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, such as the COP 15 in 2009 of Copenhagen, COP 17 in 2011 of Duban and COP19 in 2013 of Warsaw are not sufficient enough.…”

Assessment of emission scenarios for 2030 and impacts of black carbon emission reduction measures on air quality and radiative forcing in Southeast Asia

“…However, so far it has not been adequately considered in policy making in many developing countries. A number of studies reported applications of the modeling tool to investigate impacts of emission reduction measures on the premature mortality and radiative forcing in East and South Asia (Saikawa et al, 2009;Aunan et al, 2006;Akimoto et al, 2015). There are no such detailed studies conducted for the SEA region where local/domestic and transboundary problems, e.g., regional haze, are important (Heil and Goldammer, 2001).…”