Climate Pollutants was launched in Washington DC on 17 February 2012. The Coalition is one of the most important developments to combat climate change in over a decade. The coalition is focused on fast-action climate
mitigation which has the potential to reduce a major part of
climate pollution and build the momentum to
successfully manage carbon dioxide from energy production.
- To catalyze the speed and the scale of action on short
lived climate pollutants - Enhance existing and develop new national actions to
address mitigation gaps - Encourage existing and new regional actions
- Reinforce and track existing efforts to reduce these
pollutants, promoting opportunities for greater international coordination and
developing and improving inventories - Identify barriers to action and seeking to surmount
them - Promote best practices or available technologies and
showcase successful efforts to address short lived climate forcers - Improve understanding of and review scientific progress
on short lived climate pollutants, their impacts and benefits of mitigation and
dissemination of knowledge; and - Mobilize targeted support for those developing countries
that require resources to develop their capacity and to implement actions
consistent with national strategies to support sustainable development
The war against climate change just got major reinforcements in the effort to reduce black carbon (soot), methane, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), collectively known as short-lived climate pollutants because they remain in the air to warm the Earth for only a few days to a decade and a half.
Initial funding for the Coalition has been provided by the US and Canada. Sweden and Norway announced today that they would contribute as well. The World Bank announced they have $12 billion in their portfolio that can contribute to the Coalition goals, and noted the need for urgent action to reduce the short-lived climate pollutants.
Governance & Sustainable Development, who attended the inaugural meeting in
Stockholm, stated,
“The Coalition may be the single most important development
for climate protection in the past ten years. It focuses on fast-action climate
mitigation that can be done today with existing technologies by willing
partners. It has the potential not only to reduce a major part of
climate pollution, but to build the momentum and confidence we need to
successfully manage carbon dioxide from energy production, which is essential
for keeping the Planet’s long term temperature increase to an acceptable
level.”
“To win the climate war, we need to cut both the short-lived climate pollutants and long-lived carbon dioxide, the most damaging gas. Fortunately, we’re gaining allies quickly in the second front of the fight against black carbon, methane, and HFCs. A victory on this front will build the confidence we need to win the war.”
Communications and Public Information/UNEP Spokesperson, on Tel: +254 733
632755, E-mail: nick.nuttall@unep.org
2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
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