07 November 2012
Science to policy: Reducing short-lived greenhouse gases
From 6-7 November, Amann will take part in a Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Working Group meeting at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. He was named to the Scientific Advisory Board of the CCAC in August, and will attend regular meetings of the body, joining a group of renowned scientists who provide up-to-date scientific information that can aid policymakers in making decisions and proposing action to reduce emissions of short-lived pollutants that contribute to global warming. The CCAC was established earlier this year as an international initiative to encourage fast action on reducing these pollutants.
Reducing emissions of methane, black carbon or soot, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and other short-lived pollutants could have an immediate effect to help mitigate climate change, according to research by IIASA’s Mitigation of Air Pollutants and Greenhouse Gases (MAG) program, which Amann leads. In addition, a growing body of research shows that not only would such measures help mitigate climate change, but the reduced pollution would also have substantial health benefits for people around the world.
The CCAC was formed by a group of international governments and non-governmental organizations to promote practical implementation of the set of concrete emission control measures that was identified in earlier IIASA research using the GAINS Model. For more information on the CCAC and its work, visit the CCAC Web site.
For more information about IIASA research on short-lived air pollutants and climate, visit the MAG Program Web page.
Reference
Shindell, et. al. 2012. Simultaneously mitigating near-term climate change and improving human health and food security. Science, 335(6065):183-189 (13 January 2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1210026