A £10 million initiative aimed at reducing black carbon emissions and improving public health has been launched by Clean Air Fund with support from the charitable foundation Wellcome.
The programme will fund research, policy development and advocacy efforts designed to accelerate global action on black carbon, a pollutant increasingly recognised for its role in both air pollution and climate change.
Black carbon, commonly known as soot, is produced through the incomplete burning of fossil fuels, biomass and other materials. It is a major component of PM2.5 and has been linked to a range of serious health conditions, including heart and lung disease. Emerging research has also suggested possible links to illnesses such as dementia and certain cancers.
It is also considered one of the world’s most significant short-lived climate pollutants. Alongside methane and tropospheric ozone, black carbon is estimated to have contributed substantially to global warming, accelerating the melting of glaciers and polar ice, while also influencing weather patterns in some regions.
Unlike CO2, which can remain in the atmosphere for centuries, black carbon persists for only a short period. As a result, reducing emissions can deliver relatively rapid benefits for both air quality and climate mitigation.
Jane Burston OBE, CEO at Clean Air Fund, said: ‘Reducing black carbon, alongside other super pollutants, is the fastest, most effective way to slow climate change, and reap huge benefits for people’s health. Thanks to Wellcome, this programme will provide the evidence for action where it’s most needed, in places where the impacts of air pollution are hitting hardest.’
The new programme aims to strengthen understanding of the pollutant’s health and climate impacts, while helping policymakers develop more effective strategies to reduce emissions. A particular focus will be placed on communities that experience the highest levels of air pollution and are often underserved by existing environmental policies.
Clean Air Fund believe that significant reductions in black carbon emissions are technically achievable within the next decade. Research cited by the organisation suggests emissions could be cut by 70% by 2030 compared with 2010 levels through the deployment of existing technologies and policy measures.
Funding will be directed towards generating new evidence on the impacts of black carbon, supporting policy interventions and building momentum for further investment in efforts to tackle so-called ‘super pollutants’.
Environmental and health experts have increasingly highlighted the importance of addressing short-lived climate pollutants as part of wider efforts to limit global warming. While long-term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions remain essential, targeting pollutants such as black carbon is seen as one of the fastest ways to reduce near-term climate impacts while improving air quality.
Rachel Huxley, Head of Mitigation at Wellcome said: ‘Black carbon is a major but often overlooked driver of both ill health and climate change. This programme will help turn evidence into action, delivering rapid benefits where they are needed most.’
Photo: Chris LeBoutillier
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