Unexpected threats to the health of global systems keep emerging. Twenty years ago we didn't recognize global warming. Ten years ago we didn't know about ocean acidification. This might be the landmark week in which a broad public recognized a new threat to the global climate -- black carbon.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has just published a science-based analysis of the climate forcing effects of black carbon. The findings are that cutting black carbon and troposperhic ozone now could halve regional warming for 30 to 60 years and reduce global warming by half a degree. It turns out that reducing black carbon emissions needs to become a priority. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), greenhouse gas reductions alone will not avert further destruction of the arctic; black carbon and ozone reductions are needed.
Black carbon is made up of fine particles. It is colloquially known as soot. It comes from diesel engines as well as burning wood, waste and gas. The health effects of black carbon are well known. In London, for example, the soot from our beloved taxis and other sources leads to the early death of 4,500 people a year according to the government.
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