COP16: Black Carbon Expert V. Ramanathan Highlights Forgotten 50% of Climate Pollution

Dr. Veerabhadran Ramanathan, a scientist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, speaks about the other half of climate change - the non-carbon dioxide climate warmers, which include black carbon soot, methane, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Black carbon soot is mostly produced from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels (like diesel in vehicles) and biomass-burning cookstoves. Both black carbon and tropospheric ozone are local air pollutants that are harmful to health, the climate, and, in the case of tropospheric ozone, agriculture. Dr. Ramanathan also references the success of the Montreal Protocol ozone treaty and its ability to protect and restore the ozone layer as well as protect the climate system. The treaty could now be used to phase out another group of 'super' greenhouse gases, HFCs, which are used as coolants in refrigeration and air conditioning as well as foam-blowing applications for insulation.

This presentation took place during an event hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Federated States of Micronesia at the December 2010 UN climate change meetings in Cancun, Mexico.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• climate change
• soot
• black carbon
• methane
• ozone
• HFCs
• UNFCCC
• mitigation
• environment
• green
• COP16