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BUYING TIME FOR EARTH’S CLIMATE Curbs on black carbon, smog may be BEST SHORT-TERM PLAN, report says
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Climate Change Science Program, the report also points out that the cuts in pollution would provide health benefits to people. The report shows that regional air pollution controls need to be integrated into global climate-change policy, says Drew T. Shindell, coauthor of the report and a climate scientist at the National 60 N Aeronautics & Space Administra30 N tion’s Goddard Institute for Space 0 Studies. Changes in air pollution 30 S levels are projected to contribute 20% 60 S of human-caused global warming 60 E 120 E 180 120 W 60 W by 2050, according to report coauthor –2 –1 –0.5 0 0.5 1 2 3 5 Hiram (Chip) Levy II, senior reºC search scientist at THE HEAT IS ON Short-lived air pollutants could cause the National temperature rises of 3 ºC in the U.S. heartland and eastern Oceanic & AtmoMediterranean region by 2100, according to a new federal report. spheric Administration’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. carbon and smog and a decrease in sulfate Reducing emissions from wood, dung, emissions are projected to cause a temperand other biomass burned for cooking and ature rise of 3 ºC in the middle of the U.S. heating homes in Asia appears to offer the and in the eastern Mediterranean by 2100, biggest bang for the buck as a short-term the report says. policy to offset global warming, the report Although the report recommends tarsays. Cuts in smog-forming pollution geted air pollution controls in the short from cars and trucks in North America term, these controls are not a substitute could have a similar impact, it adds. for addressing CO2 emissions, Shindell says. Allen Robinson, a professor of mechaniTHESE POLICIES would curb two types cal engineering at Carnegie Mellon Univerof widespread air pollutants that absorb sity, tells C&EN that curbing particulate Earth’s heat, contributing to global warmmatter emissions in Asia would amount ing. One is black carbon, a type of tiny to a “finger in the dike” in dealing with clisoot particle released during combustion, mate change. especially the burning of biomass and dieThe report is available at climatescience sel. The other is ground-level ozone, com.gov/Library/sap/sap3-2/final-report/ monly called smog, which is formed from #finalreport.—CHERYL HOGUE vehicle tailpipe emissions and releases of NOA A CCSP 3. 2
A NEW FEDERAL REPORT is suggesting a novel policy to forestall climate change in the short run. Rather than making deep cuts in carbon dioxide emissions, it says policymakers should consider slashing certain types of air pollutants, such as black carbon and smog, in the next decade or so. This strategy would buy time for development of new energy technologies that sharply curb or eliminate CO2 emissions, according to the report, “Climate Projections Based on Emissions Scenarios for Long-Lived and Short-Lived Radiatively Active Gases and Aerosols.” Released in early September by the U.S.
volatile organic compounds. Both smog and fine particles cause health problems and are targets of current air pollution regulations. In contrast to smog and black carbon, some air pollutants actually counteract global warming, the report points out. For instance, sulfate particles that are by-products of burning coal reflect the sun’s energy into space and thus help cool the planet. Sulfates also stimulate the formation of clouds, which reflect light and contribute to cooling. Therefore, regulations to control emissions from coal-fired power plants may contribute to global warming because they lower the level of sulfates in the atmosphere, the report says. Anticipated increases in levels of black
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