UK gov't assesses synergies between air pollution & climate change policy

The next national air quality strategy should take account of the co-benefits that measures to cut air pollution can have in mitigating climate change, concludes a report issued by Defra. At the same time, actions that tackle climate change but damage air quality must be avoided.

The report highlights the additional health benefits that could be achieved through closer integration of air quality and climate change policies. Particularly noteworthy is the report's recognition of the threat posed by " black carbon", a fraction of particulate matter consisting of particles that result from inefficient burning. Sources include diesel engines, biomass combustion and coal-fired power stations. "In the atmosphere this pollutant contributes to climate change by absorbing heat and by depositing on snow and ice thereby reducing the reflectivity of those areas, possibly speeding up the melting of glaciers and altering weather patterns. Emerging evidence suggests that black carbon may contribute 20-50% of the warming effect of CO2 to near-term climate change," states the report.

It notes that the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has recently launched an assessment of black carbon and tropospheric (ground level) ozone to evaluate their combined roles in air pollution and climate change (Environment Analyst 08-Sept-09).

• report
• Defra news release