Publications·December 31, 2023
This guidance document by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) provides a comprehensive roadmap for integrating air quality considerations—particularly black carbon (BC) and other short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs)—into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. It emphasizes the synergies between climate change mitigation and air pollution reduction, highlighting how integrated strategies can deliver health, food security, and development co-benefits while accelerating progress toward global climate goals.
Why Air Pollutants Matter
Air pollution is a global health crisis, responsible for 8.1 million deaths annually and reducing global GDP by 6.1% (≈$8.1 trillion). The same sectors that emit greenhouse gases—energy, transport, agriculture, and industry—also emit harmful air pollutants. Addressing these pollutants alongside GHGs can maximize co-benefits, including improved health outcomes, reduced crop losses, and enhanced resilience to climate impacts.
Black carbon (BC), a component of PM₂.₅, is a potent climate forcer and health hazard. It absorbs sunlight, accelerates snow and ice melt, and influences regional weather patterns. BC is co-emitted with other pollutants like CO₂, NOₓ, and NMVOCs, making integrated mitigation critical. Similarly, tropospheric ozone—formed from precursors such as methane and NOₓ—is both an air pollutant and a short-lived climate pollutant.
Global Mandate and Policy Context
The Paris Agreement explicitly calls for climate action that respects health and equity. The 2023 Global Stocktake urges accelerated reductions of non-CO₂ emissions, including BC and ozone precursors, by 2030. Regional agreements like CLRTAP, ASEAN Haze Agreement, and Malé Declaration also address transboundary air pollution, but often lack explicit climate integration. This guidance bridges that gap by aligning air quality and climate objectives within NDCs.
Key Recommendations for NDC Integration
Integrated Planning:Align climate and air quality commitments to avoid duplication and maximize efficiency.
Use integrated analyses to quantify co-benefits and engage stakeholders across health, energy, and environment sectors.
Goal Setting and Transparency:Include stand-alone BC reduction goals (distinct from GHG targets).
Establish comprehensive emissions inventories for BC, ozone precursors, and other pollutants.
Develop MRV systems for transparent tracking and reporting.
Prioritization of Measures:Focus on sectors with high BC emissions: transport (diesel vehicles), household energy (solid fuel cooking), industry (brick kilns, coke ovens), agriculture (crop residue burning), and oil & gas (gas flaring).
Highlight health and food security benefits in cost-benefit analyses to justify ambitious targets.
Menu of Strategies by Sector:Transport: Adopt Euro VI standards, phase out high-emitting diesel vehicles, promote EVs, expand public transport.
Households: Transition to clean cooking fuels (LPG, electricity, biogas), improve stove efficiency.
Industry: Modernize brick kilns, replace traditional coke ovens, enforce energy efficiency standards.
Agriculture: Eliminate open burning, promote conservation agriculture, utilize crop residues for bioenergy.
Energy: End routine gas flaring, accelerate renewable energy deployment.
Financing and Capacity Building:Identify technology and financial needs for implementing air quality measures.
Engage international donors and climate finance mechanisms by demonstrating robust MRV and co-benefits.
Transparency and Reporting:Integrate air quality indicators into climate reporting.
Disaggregate data by sector and social groups (including gender impacts).
Report on transboundary pollution impacts and regional cooperation efforts.
Tools and Resources
The guidance lists modeling and assessment tools to support integrated planning:
LEAP-IBC: Calculates emissions scenarios and health impacts.
GAINS: Assesses GHG and air pollutant emissions across sectors.
BenMAP, AirQ+, HAPIT: Quantify health and economic impacts of air pollution.
SWEET: Estimates emissions from solid waste.
Transportation Roadmap Model: Projects transport sector emissions.
Case Studies
Mexico: NDC includes a 51% reduction target for SLCPs (including BC) by 2030.
Ghana: Integrates air quality goals with clean energy and agriculture measures.
Colombia: Sets a national BC reduction target (40% by 2030) and quantifies health co-benefits.
Why Integration Matters
Including air quality in NDCs:
Strengthens climate ambition by identifying additional mitigation measures.
Unlocks finance through co-benefit justification.
Broadens stakeholder support by linking climate action to health and development.
Accelerates near-term warming reductions by targeting SLCPs.
Despite these benefits, only 13 NDCs explicitly target BC, and fewer than one-third mention air pollution or health impacts—highlighting a major missed opportunity.
Highlighted Keywords
Black Carbon (BC), Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs), Tropospheric Ozone, Methane, Air Quality, NDC Integration, Co-benefits, MRV Systems, Emissions Inventories, Euro VI Standards, Clean Cooking, Brick Kilns, Gas Flaring, Renewable Energy, Transparency, Health Benefits, Food Security, Transboundary Pollution, LEAP-IBC, GAINS Model, CCAC Guidance.