14 measures to reduce warming by targeting short-lived pollutants
Led by NASA researcher Drew Shindell, a double dozen of scientists argue in an article publiched in the journal Science that it is possible to mitigate near-term climate-change and improve human health and food security the same time.
They identify 14 measures based on existent technologies and fairly cheap to implement. They argue that targeting the short-lived pollutants, methane and black carbon (shoot), could reduce projected global mean warming ~0.5°C by 2050.
Simultaneously Mitigating Near-Term Climate Change and Improving Human Health and Food Security
ABSTRACT
Tropospheric ozone and black carbon (BC) contribute to both degraded air quality and global warming. We considered ~400 emission control measures to reduce these pollutants by using current technology and experience. We identified 14 measures targeting methane and BC emissions that reduce projected global mean warming ~0.5°C by 2050. This strategy avoids 0.7 to 4.7 million annual premature deaths from outdoor air pollution and increases annual crop yields by 30 to 135 million metric tons due to ozone reductions in 2030 and beyond. Benefits of methane emissions reductions are valued at $700 to $5000 per metric ton, which is well above typical marginal abatement costs (less than $250). The selected controls target different sources and influence climate on shorter time scales than those of carbon dioxide–reduction measures. Implementing both substantially reduces the risks of crossing the 2°C threshold.
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