Air pollution and climate change

Scientists and politicians should not try, pollution and climate change as different problems air, because the two are very closely related. The workshop, which was recently on linkages and synergies of regional and global emission control, the UNECE Convention on the pollution of air pollution by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) organized the many connections between these two areas examined. Concluded that these links are so important they deserve a close cooperation.Air pollution affects the regional and global climate, both directly and indirectly. Ozone in the lower atmosphere contributes to global warming, even more than some greenhouse gases covered Kyoto, and the particles in the atmosphere also has important effects on climate.

However, although carbon black or soot, has a warming effect, other particles such as sulfates and nitrates, may cool the climate. The current high levels of sulfates and nitrates mask the effects of climate change to some degree. By reducing the emissions of sulfur and nitrogen are necessary to protect human health and the environment against the adverse climate of greenhouse gas emissions can actually be faster to show. In addition, measures to reduce emissions of soot, for example, to reduce the combustion of diesel, be a double benefit, protection of human health at local and regional climate and global levels.

Methane has a direct negative impact on the climate (which is one of the greenhouse gases the Kyoto Protocol) and contributes to ozone levels at ground level. Methane emissions (mainly from agriculture, energy and waste management) have grown since pre-industrial times. Cutting these emissions levels of health and damage the ecosystem of the ozone layer and reduce reduced and the extent of climate change.

are shown in the climatic effects of increased concentration of greenhouse gases already in higher average temperatures and felt an increase in extreme weather events (floods and droughts) are likely to occur most impact over the next 50-100 years. Some gases such as carbon dioxide remain in the atmosphere for a long time, so measures to reduce emissions only start to show an effect after a few decades. Unlike ozone, methane, carbon black and can be controlled to show the effects much earlier (10-20 years). Cutting these pollutants could contribute to some of the consequences could take climate change to long-term liabilities.

In addition to these connections between atmospheric effects, there is also a strong link between the sources of emissions. Energy and transport are for the most CO2 emissions and a lot of air pollution. Reducing energy consumption and car use have a double advantage. Synergies can be found in agriculture: the reduction of ammonia emissions could lead to increased emissions of certain greenhouse gas emissions, but the same level of reduction may be through an integrated strategy, which are also in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to reach agreement.

ECE Convention Center Integrated assessment conducted by IIASA, estimates that the cost could be reduced to achieve the 2010 targets for air pollution in the Gothenburg Protocol agreement of at least $ 5,000,000, if the European countries according to the CO2 emissions to reduce the Kyoto Protocol (without trade of CO2). Similar results were obtained in China or Mexico.

Although close to the air pollution and climate change were mainly treated as separate problems. At the international level, efforts helped in the UN / ECE Convention on Transboundary Air Pollution long distance to levels of air pollution in Europe to decrease. Sulfur emissions by 60% less than in 1980 were reduced nitrogen oxides by 25% compared with 1990 and other pollutants back to the starting point. In the global economy of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change together more than 180 countries agreed on measures taken to combat climate change. Much remains to be done, both the air pollution to safe levels and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in the fight against climate change.
The taking of certain measures in relation to climate change added benefit of improved air quality are locally and regionally. Some measures to reduce air pollution will also protect the global and regional climate. Many, but not all knowledge about these connections, but no systematic investigation. ECE Convention cooperative program for monitoring and evaluation of long range air pollution in Europe (EMEP) has begun to integrate win these links in your assessment that the measures will lead to further reduction of air pollution situations, win. He is also working with scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to move this work.