Evaluating Black Carbon Cuts in Finland (MACEB)

IIASA has joined with three research groups from Finland to study how to mitigate Arctic warming by controlling black carbon emissions from Europe. This project is assessing black carbon concentrations and corresponding radiative forcing over the Arctic region and is linking them with the emissions from various sources and regions. 

Black Carbon is a product of incomplete combustion and is emitted as particles into the atmosphere that absorb sunlight and potentially warm the climate. Due to its relatively short lifetime in the atmosphere, black carbon is considered a Short-Lived Climate Forcer. Major sources of black carbon aerosols include domestic use of wood burning stoves and boilers, diesel engines, flaring of natural gas, open biomass burning and shipping. 

The goals of MACEB are to demonstrate the best approach to mitigate warming of the arctic climate caused by black carbon; to assess the impact of current air quality and other relevant legislation; and to share black carbon emission mitigation procedures with other research institutions and national governments within the European Union.

Last edited: 19 June 2012