Taking Action Against Black Carbon: How to Immediately Unlock Clean Air and Climate Benefits A Clean Air Fund report

According to the report, reducing black carbon along with other major pollutants is the fastest way to improve the economy, public health, and air quality while achieving near-immediate climate gains.

What is black carbon?

Black carbon, another name for soot, is a form of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5). Black carbon is categorized as a Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) and only remains in the atmosphere for a few days to weeks.

Top emitters: After China, India is the world's second-largest emitter of black carbon.

Impact on the Regional Climate: accelerates the melting of glaciers and Arctic ice by darkening snow and ice. It is estimated to have caused 39% of the mass loss of the Yala glacier on the Tibetan Plateau.

Disruption of the Hydrological Cycle: By interfering with the monsoon rains in Asia and West Africa, this increases the risk of drought and flooding.

Suggestions for businesses that generate a lot of black carbon in and around the Arctic, with a focus on home heating, shipping, and gas flaring.

Updating Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and adding targets for cutting black carbon to national energy and clean air plans.

Implementing comprehensive waste management solutions and other coordinated actions to counteract super-pollutants