BY CCAC SECRETARIAT

Reducing dangerous air pollutants in Latin America and the Caribbean will benefit health, eco-systems and the climate

Efforts to reduce dangerous air and climate pollutants by Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries could reap immediate and long-term benefits for health, food security and the climate according to the first ever Integrated Assessment of Short-lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) for the region.

The assessment, released today by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), found poor air quality and global warming is already affecting vulnerable populations and ecosystems in the region resulting in premature deaths, crop yield losses, and ecosystem damage.

In 2010 an estimated 64,000 people died prematurely in the LAC region from exposure to fine air polluting particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground level (tropospheric) ozone. Ozone was also responsible for an estimated 7.4 million tonnes in yield losses of soybean, maize, wheat, and rice. If no action is taken to improve air quality, by 2050 annual premature mortality from PM2.5 and ozone exposure is expected to almost double while annual crop losses could rise to about 9 million tonnes.

The assessment focuses on four short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs): black carbon (soot), methane, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs, typically used in refrigeration and air conditioning). SLCPs are present in the atmosphere for a short period of time compared to carbon dioxide (CO2) – days to decades compared to hundreds of years – and are many times more potent at warming the atmosphere. Black carbon and tropospheric ozone, are also powerful air pollutants that harm human health and the environment.

Unless action is taken to reduce SLCPs now, emissions from the region will increase significantly by 2050 adding additional impacts on climate, health and agriculture
Leo Heileman

UNEP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean
A number of SLCP reduction measures have been identified that can reduce warming in the LAC region by between 0.3 to 0.9 degrees Celsius by 2050. Over the same timeframe these measures will decrease annual premature deaths from PM2.5 by at least 25% and deaths from ozone by 40%, and avoid annual losses of 3-4 million tonnes of four major crops – soybeans, maize, wheat, and rice.

“Unless action is taken to reduce SLCPs now, emissions from the region will increase significantly by 2050 adding additional impacts on climate, health and agriculture,” says Leo Heileman, UNEP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “Many countries are already taking part in SLCP reduction initiatives at both national and subnational levels. Scaling up these efforts, strengthening policies and improving regional cooperation will lead to widespread reductions of SLCPs with large near term benefits for the region.”

The LAC region is one of the most urbanized in the world, with almost 80 per cent living in cities. Helena Molin Valdés, Head of the UNEP hosted CCAC Secretariat said that urban air pollution has been a concern for many years but many countries and cities in the region are now making commitments to improve air quality for both health and climate.

“Reducing air pollution from black carbon, methane and tropospheric ozone will show quick results, help achieve many of the global sustainable development goals, save lives now and protect future generations,” Ms Molin Valdés said. “Immediate reductions of both CO2 and SLCPs are necessary to achieve our long-term climate goals, and this can only be achieved by implementing both CO2 and SLCP measures in parallel.”

The Assessment identifies activities that can significantly reduce SLCP emissions. For example black carbon emissions can be reduced by over 80 per cent by 2050 in most countries by focusing on initiatives that modernize cooking and heating stoves, improve diesel vehicle standards to Euro VI equivalent, put diesel particulate filters on vehicles, eliminate high emitting vehicles, and enforce bans on open field agricultural burning. (See Black Carbon Measures infographic at bottom of page)

To reduce methane emissions six measures across four sectors – oil and gas production and distribution, waste management, coal mining and agriculture – have been identified. These include activities like: the recovery and use of vented gas in oil and gas production, separation and treatment of biodegradable municipal solid waste, and recovering biogas from livestock manure using anaerobic digestion. (See Methane Measures infographic at bottom of page)

There are cost effective and technologically feasible measures and policies that can be implemented today to improve air quality and provide climate protection benefits
Helena Molin Valdés
Head of the UNEP hosted CCAC Secretariat

Using alternatives to HFC’s in refrigeration and cooling can almost completely eliminate this potent greenhouse gas and achieve further benefits through improvements in appliance energy efficiency.

“These are all cost effective and technologically feasible measures and policies that can be implemented today to improve air quality and provide climate protection benefits,” Ms Molin Valdés said.

The Assessment was released at the United Nations Environment Assembly taking place in Nairobi, Kenya from May 23 – 27.

Main Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) in the LAC region

Methane (CH4): is a powerful greenhouse gas with a lifetime in the atmosphere of approximately 12 years. Increased methane emissions has caused the most significant warming of any greenhouse gas after CO2. It has a direct influence on the climate but is also notable for being an important precursor to tropospheric ozone (O3).

The LAC region is responsible for approximately 15% of global methane emissions. Virtually all of these emissions originate from three sectors: agriculture (approximately 50%) coal, oil and gas production and distribution (approx. 40%) and waste management (approx. 10%).

Ozone (O3): is a gas that exists in both the upper (stratosphere) and lower (troposphere) layers of the atmosphere. In the stratosphere ozone protects life on Earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, at ground level, it is an air pollutant, which is harmful to human and ecosystem health. It is also a major component of urban smog and the third most important contributor to global warming after methane and CO2. It stays in the atmosphere for a few hours to days. Recent studies have linked both short- and long-term ozone exposure to premature death, heart attacks, strokes, heart disease, congestive heart failure, and possible reproductive and developmental harm. It reduces crop yields and the quality and productivity of vegetation.

Ozone is considered a secondary pollutant because it is not emitted directly, but is formed when precursor gases such as methane, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) react in the presence of sunlight. It is a key reason why methane emissions must be reduced.

Black Carbon (BC): is a potent climate-warming particle that remains in the atmosphere for a few days or weeks. It is formed by the incomplete combustion of fossils fuels, wood and other fuels. Black carbon and co-emitted pollutants contribute to the formation of fine air polluting particulate matter (PM2.5). PM2.5 has been linked to a number of health impacts including premature death in adults, heart and lung disease, strokes, heart attacks, chronic respiratory disease such as bronchitis, aggravated asthma and other cardio-respiratory symptoms.

The LAC region is responsible for less than 10 per cent of total global anthropogenic emissions of BC, excluding those from forest and savannah fires. Two major source sectors are responsible for about three quarters of BC emissions in LAC: transport and the residential burning of solid fuels for cooking and heating. More than 60 per cent of the region’s BC emissions originate in Brazil and Mexico.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs): are a group of industrial chemicals primarily produced for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning, insulating foams and aerosol propellants, with minor uses as solvents and for fire protection. Many HFCs are very powerful greenhouse gases and a substantial number have a lifetime of between 15 and 29 years in the atmosphere. HFC consumption is projected to double by 2020, and their emissions could contribute substantially to global warming by the middle of the century.

The majority of the HFC emissions come from two sectors, mobile air conditioning, about 20 per cent, and commercial refrigeration, around 38 per cent. The third largest source of emissions, contributing around 15 per cent, is residential window- and split-unit air conditioners, listed as stationary air-conditioning. These three sectors offer a large opportunity for mitigation.

IMAGES:

LAC HFC emissions.JPG

LAC region HFC emissions by country and sector

LAC Black Carbon emissions.JPG

LAC Methane emissions.JPG LAC Region methane emissions by country and sector

LAC Region black carbon emissions by country and sector

To Download The Summary go to: http://www.ccacoalition.org/en/resources/integrated-assessment-short-lived-climate-pollutants-latin-america-and-caribbean-summary

SOURCE: http://www.ccacoalition.org/en/news/first-assessment-slcps-latin-america-and-caribbean-released