Fast forward to a cooler world
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At the C40 Summit in Sao Paolo last week, former President Clinton urged participating cities and the World Bank to make a dramatic reduction in methane and black carbon. He said it would help the earth buy some time on climate change. He has reasons to be worried: In Cancun last year, parties agreed to stabilize average global temperatures at a level not exceeding 2degree C above pre-industrial levels. This looks difficult as 0.8degree C warming has already taken place and GHG emissions continue to grow.
Developed countries collectively reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by a mere 6.1% from 1990-2008. Compared to the fast track for warming, humanity is on the slow train to reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reductions.
President Clinton’s statement follows two recent reports that point to emerging scientific awareness that a climate change strategy focusing exclusively on carbon dioxide (CO2) is neither the quickest nor the most effective way to achieve long-term climate stabilization. These reports focus on non-CO2 emissions that stay in the atmosphere for a shorter period of time than CO2. As a result, reducing emissions of these non-CO2 gases will result in a slowing of temperature rise over the first half of the 21st century, buying time both to adapt and to transition away from carbon.
The first report, produced by UNEP and WMO, assesses black carbon and tropospheric ozone. Black carbon—basically soot—is produced by incomplete combustion of carbon fuels, particularly diesel, wood, and coal. It is a dark suspended particle or aerosol, technically not a GHG. It is frequently emitted together with light-colored aerosols (sulfates and organic carbon) which cool the climate. The latest research indicates that, on balance, the warming effect of black carbon overpowers the cooling effect of its companions. It stays in the atmosphere for only a few weeks before falling to earth. Its warming contribution comes from its black color, making it absorb heat while in the air. If it falls onto mountain or polar snow, it accelerates glacial melt.
The second report, published by Project Catalyst, focuses on potential reductions in climate warming by decreasing emissions of black carbon; methane; nitrous oxide (N2O); and fluorinated gases (F-gases). Methane and nitrous oxide are both GHG’s which are included in the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol. F-gases are industrial gases most of which are scheduled for phase-out under the Montreal Protocol.
Because of their short-lived nature and high global warming potential, these four emissions have a greater short-term impact on the rate of global climate change than does CO2. In 2005, they constituted 29 % of total anthropogenic emissions. Between now and 2030, they will account for roughly half of the anticipated global warming. Reducing these non-CO2 emissions will slow warming over the next 30 to 50 years, giving us time to agree upon how best to reduce CO2. Abatement for at least half of these non-CO2 gases will cost nothing or less than nothing, making a non-CO2 strategy very cost-effective.
The World Bank has a great deal of experience reducing emissions of non-CO2 climate forcers. The Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR) has identified the potential to reduce fugitive methane emissions. Projects supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and various development policy loans (DPLs) by the World Bank have focused efforts on utilizing methane from solid and liquid biological wastes. The Montreal Protocol has a strong history of working with refrigerator manufacturers to phase-out substances that deplete the ozone layer and also warm the climate. Recent estimates place the net climate change impact of the cumulative reduction of the World Bank’s Montreal Protocol at over 20 Gt of CO2 equivalent.
How can this new awareness of short-term climate forcers be combined into a program with almost immediate impact? How can we steer the Bank (and the world) back onto the fast track to a cooler world? I do not have the answers, yet. But the questions are worth pondering.
Prof. Richard Hosier,
Your article covers the entire episode of Climate change issues and current inertness or handicap of the global community to combat and steer the development for a cooler planet.There is no doubt about the initiatives of World Bank with the dual tasks of Global Development in tune with Environmental issues.
As a private volunteer researcher in Sustainable Development, the reality of global commitment to Sustainable Development looks decorative with all creams of environmental flavors. The pity in reality is no one has touched the core of the problem. What is meant is technologies & engineering developments are not focused to open minded options. There seems to be serious limitations on the present conception on renewable energy systems.
Solutions do exist about effectively tackling climate change. few of the core options are
1] Energy option without burning out any form of matter& discarding out unsustainable uneconomical energy options.
2]Taking into electricity based systems in transport, prime & secondary energy adaptations for domestic & industrial utilities.
3] Zero carbon power & Carbon abatement. Our existing organic fossil resources need not be exhausted by major fuel burning and can be effectively used out as potential organic resource for long term consumption.
4] Salvation to water related issues issues- fresh water renewals, best storage & distribution practices including abatement of water pollution.
5] Waste conversions & sustainable materials.
So the key points are Clean and Abundant Electricity, Well distributed water, Land & Green cover preservation, afforestation, Option on vertical growth than surface expansion&population concerns.
Last but not least is the openness to hear the genuine voices of potential optimists with a different approach.
It is also my pleasure to assist the World Bank via our voluntary initiatives called Clean Planet Technology Initiatives for Sustainable Development.
The happy end note is that there are solid answers to the uncertain questions. Openness to new ideas could foster further concrete development in this direction.
Prof. Subramaniam Udhayamarthandan,
India