Urgent Solutions for Black Carbon Emissions: A Path to Climate and Health Recovery

The World Economic Forum’s report highlights the urgent need for global action to reduce black carbon emissions, which significantly contribute to climate change and health issues. It calls for coordinated international efforts, increased financing, and the development of regulatory frameworks to mitigate BC’s harmful impacts.

The World Economic Forum’s white paper in collaboration with the Institute for Global Decarbonization Progress (iGDP) and other key institutions, addresses the urgent need for action on black carbon (BC) emissions. Despite decades of research underscoring the harmful impact of BC on climate and public health, the global response has been slow and insufficient. BC is a short-lived climate pollutant that significantly contributes to global warming, with a warming effect far greater than carbon dioxide. It accelerates the melting of Arctic ice, Himalayan glaciers, and influences weather patterns such as the Indian monsoon. Additionally, BC is a component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which has been linked to severe health issues including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The white paper highlights the lack of international focus on BC, particularly within frameworks like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which have largely ignored BC in their climate action plans, focusing instead on long-lived greenhouse gases.

National Efforts to Curb Black Carbon Emissions

The report examines five major BC-emitting countries Brazil, China, India, Nigeria, and the United States—to understand the barriers to BC mitigation and the steps taken by each to address the issue. In China, BC control is primarily driven by air quality improvements rather than direct climate action. The country has made significant progress in reducing particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions by converting solid fuel heating systems to natural gas and reducing diesel emissions. However, BC-specific measures remain limited, and most interventions are concentrated around the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with limited application nationwide. In India, efforts to reduce BC emissions have been more indirect, driven by public health concerns over household air pollution and efforts to reduce emissions from diesel vehicles and agricultural burning. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) has been instrumental in encouraging the use of cleaner cooking fuels, helping to reduce indoor air pollution caused by traditional biomass stoves, a major source of BC emissions. However, agricultural burning, a significant contributor to BC, remains a persistent issue due to the lack of viable alternatives for waste disposal.

Financing and Infrastructure Challenges in Developing Nations

Nigeria, which joined the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) in 2012, has made strides in reducing short-lived climate pollutants, including BC. The country’s National Plan to Reduce SLCPs, adopted in 2019, aims to cut BC emissions by 83% if fully funded and implemented. Key measures include eliminating gas flaring, reducing waste burning, and converting diesel buses to natural gas. However, progress has been slow due to financial constraints and poor infrastructure, particularly in rural areas where kerosene lamps and inefficient cookstoves remain prevalent. Brazil, although a relatively new participant in the global BC dialogue, has initiated several air quality programs that could reduce BC emissions. The country’s gas-aid program subsidizes liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for low-income households, and efforts are underway to phase out old diesel vehicles. However, the high cost of cooking gas and infrastructural challenges hinder broader adoption of clean cooking technologies.

US Leadership in Air Quality and Black Carbon Control

The United States, a founding member of the CCAC, has focused primarily on air quality improvements, with BC reductions being a co-benefit of these efforts. In states like California, stringent regulations on diesel engines, alongside significant subsidies, have helped reduce BC emissions from the transport sector. Additionally, California has banned most agricultural burning, a significant BC source. However, wildfires remain a growing concern in the US, with increasing frequency and intensity contributing to BC emissions. The white paper identifies common barriers to BC mitigation across these countries, including a lack of clear regulatory frameworks, limited financial resources, technological gaps, and insufficient political will. The absence of global standards for measuring and controlling BC emissions is a significant hurdle. While some countries have integrated BC into their climate action plans, most lack comprehensive policies that directly target BC.

Addressing the Financial and Technological Barriers

A major challenge is the financial burden of transitioning to cleaner technologies, particularly in low-income regions where BC emissions from household and small business activities are high. The report calls for increased climate finance to support BC mitigation efforts in these vulnerable communities, where clean cookstoves, modern brick kilns, and other technologies remain unaffordable without government subsidies. Health ministries and public health professionals also have a critical role to play in advocating for BC reduction, particularly in addressing indoor air pollution from solid fuel combustion. The report emphasizes the importance of regional collaboration, urging countries to share best practices, replicate successful interventions, and foster South-South cooperation.

A Global Call for Coordinated Action on Black Carbon

The World Economic Forum stresses the need for a coordinated global effort to address BC emissions. This includes the development of legal frameworks, technical tools, and financial mechanisms to support BC mitigation. Without a collective commitment to reducing BC, the world will miss a crucial opportunity to tackle near-term climate change, improve public health, and promote sustainable development. The report calls for a global shift in how BC is addressed, urging the international climate community to prioritize BC alongside other climate pollutants to achieve meaningful progress.