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Black Carbon Policy: Options and Opportunities Dennis Clare Institute for Governance and Sustainable...
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Transcript of Black Carbon Policy: Options and Opportunities Dennis Clare Institute for Governance and Sustainable...
Black Carbon Policy: Options and Opportunities
Dennis ClareInstitute for Governance and Sustainable Development
March 17, 2010
Woodrow Wilson International Center for ScholarsWashington, DC
First:
a
qualification
about the clai
m that incomplete combustion
of
biomass leads to
black
particles that cause
health
problems
There is
at least
one critical
exception to this rule:
If instead
of fully
burning it you
merely roast certain types
of
biomass—say,
barley—then the
black
particles can serve to
benefit
health….
Moving on…
How is black carbon being regulated around the world?
It isn’t…per se
Particulate matter (PM) is regulated in some places, but not in others.
Therefore, BC, which is a species of PM, is covered indirectly under some of these laws.
And some PM laws have led to significant BC
reductions.
However, regulations for PM10 are more common than regulations for PM2.5,
which better address BC.
BC is typically .1 μm or smaller (e.g. 300 nm) so these very fine particles are not always effectively addressed when they
are not specifically targeted
Regulations may be needed for BC per se
or
At least for the specific sources that emit the most harmful BC
Sources with high ratios of BC
Not like Guinness
Sources whose emissions are killing people directly
Sources whose emissions effect snow and ice
Where does that lead us?
US-China BC cooperation could be a first step towards a quadrilateral partnership
which might also include the EU and India
Emissions from these four constitute a majority of BC from contained combustion
From USCCSP
Some good things are already being done
But nowhere near enough
Studies and Reports
U.S. Congress has called upon EPA to draft a report on BC including: sources, warming effects, metrics and
potential domestic and international mitigation options
UNEP is undertaking an assessment of non-CO2 climate forcers, with a focus on black carbon
The Arctic Council is conducting an assessment of black carbon impacts
CLTRAP is also investigating how BC can be addressed
USAID is finalizing a report on BC
The Indian government is undertaking a three-year study of the climate effects of black carbon
Acknowledgment and Commitment
“We are also committed to taking rapid action to address other significant climate
forcing agents, such as black carbon.”
Policies and Programs
The US and EU have strong vehicle emissions regulations including standards that eliminate more than 90% of BC from
new diesel vehicles
India has recently launched a National Biomass Cookstoves Initiative
Additional Efforts Needed
The US and EU should also require in-use vehicles to be retrofitted with DPFs, the
filters that reduce BC over 90%
India should make sure that the cookstoves used in the program effectively address BC,
and don’t just reduce emissions of other, perhaps cooling, particles. Then the effort should be scaled up to tens of millions of
stoves
Four things to consider
And to discuss over the next hour or so
Key Actions to Reduce BC
• Cooking stove replacements• Diesel vehicles: engine efficiency, filter,
retirement and retrofit requirements• Improve efficiency of industrial boilers,
kilns and coke ovens• Reduce springtime agricultural burning,
especially near ice and snow
Policies to Catalyze Key Actions
• Strengthen specific domestic regulations (e.g., PM2.5 standards)
• Mandate filters on all diesel engines
• Regulate springtime burning (and enfo)
• Integrate air pollution, development, health and climate objectives for cost-effectiveness and co-benefits, especially when addressing
cookstoves
Governance Regimes to Coordinate and Facilitate those Policies
UNFCCC: COP 16 Decision Establishing a Work Program for Rapid Climate Mitigation
(as proposed by Micronesia)
Borrow existing regulatory structures - international (IMO, ICAO,
LRTAP etc.) - regional (ASEAN haze treaty,
etc.)
Ensure eligibility in all climate funds (e.g. World Bank, GEF, UNDP)
No international regime?
Different states may prefer different governance regimes
For example, how do China’s concerns and needs differ from those of the United
States or from those of Small Islands?
For more information
Contact Dennis Clare
Or read IGSD’s BC Climate Briefing Note
available at www.igsd.org