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Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V. Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V.

Short-Lived Climate-forcing Pollutants (SLCPs) in (South) Asia:

Science, Impacts and Action

Prof. Dr. Mark G. Lawrence With contributions from

Maheswar Rupakheti, Birgit Lode and Kathleen Mar

Managing Scientific Director Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) http://www.iass-potsdam.de

IGES Side Event, UNFCCC COP-21 Paris, France, 3 December 2015

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Regional Warming

“OHC” = Ocean Heat Content

Strong regional warming in Asia, Significant impacts expected (e.g., monsoon rains)

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Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V.

Air Quality: A major challenge throughout Asia

2015 2015 Beijing Air Pollution

2009 2013

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Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V.

Air Quality: A major challenge throughout Asia

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Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V. Courtesy: Jinsoo, Khadak, Dipesh, Bhogendra

Filter after one day of sampling at the SusKat-ABC Bode Supersite

Health Impacts…

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Reduced Visibility due to Particulate Matter

View from Bode House , Kathmandu, SusKat*-ABC Field Campaign Supersite

* Sustainable Atmosphere for the Kathmandu Valley (IASS/ICIMOD + ~20 partners)

20 March 2013 28 Feb 2013

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Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V.

•  Gases: –  Methane (CH4) –  Ozone (O3) –  Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) –  Etc.

SLCPs: Short-Lived Climate-forcing Pollutants

•  Aerosol Particles: –  Soot (incl. Black Carbon (“BC”)) –  Organic Carbon –  Sulfate (SO4

2-) –  Etc.

Roles •  Act as air pollutants or pollutant precursors (except HFCs)

•  Responsible for significant climate-forcing (warming /cooling)

•  Relatively short-lived in the atmosphere (days to decades)

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Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V.

Mitigation Possibilities? è 16 Key Global Measures for CH4 and BC

[UNEP, 2011]

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9 Key Global Measures for Reducing BC Emissions

Improved biomass stoves Modern coke ovens Remove mega-emitters / DPF

Cooking with clean fuel Pellet biomass heating stoves Improved brick kilns

Coal briquettes replacing coal Reduce agricultural burning Reduce flaring

(Courtesy of J. Kuylenstierna, SEI/CCAC)

è Many are typical for (South) Asia!

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Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V.

Clear Need for:

•  clean-solutions

•  grounded in sound science

•  tailored to local context

è One Response: Pilot Studies (our example: Nepal)

•  Significant levels of pollution (Transformation needs), but…

•  Manageable size for potential interventions (Transformation potential)

à Collaboration with ICIMOD and over 20 other research institutions

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Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V.

SusKat: A Sustainable Atmosphere for the Kathmandu Valley

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Decision makers - MoSTE

Private Sector

Science-policy seminars on SLCPs

Global/Regional Initiatives

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SusKat-ABC Field campaign sites (Dec 2012-June 2013)

Pokhara

Lumbini

Jomsong

Pyramid Dhunchhe

•  20 research groups (>40 scientists for ~6 months), over 150 instruments at over 20 ground sites

•  2nd largest international pollution measurements campaign ever in Southern Asia

•  Special issue with 20-25 papers in progress

•  Several follow-up campaigns (incl. exposure/health)

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Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V.

00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 24:000

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Time "HH: MM"

BC

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MonsoonWinterPre MonsoonPost Monsoon

Black Carbon (BC) in the Kathmandu Valley

Main sources of BC/PM: Traffic and road, brick factories, garbage burning, diesel gen-sets

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Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V.

SusKat: A Sustainable Atmosphere for the Kathmandu Valley

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Avai

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Students and Fellows: Capacity building

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Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies e.V.

•  Science has made a strong case that cannot be ignored:

SLCPs are a significant threat to development in Asia

•  Need to continue advancing SLCP science in the region

•  Connect to local policy makers and other key stakeholders:

especially showing benefits near where emissions are cut,

plus extension to other regions through climatic and

economic impacts

Conclusions

For more information: http://www.iass-potsdam.de/regional-focus-sustainable-atmosphere-kathmandu-valley Maheswar.Rupakheti@iass-potsdam.de Mark.Lawrence@iass-potsdam.de

The Goal: Clean Air for Asia!