Black Carbon Policy: Options and Opportunities

Dennis ClareInstitute for Governance and Sustainable Development

March 17, 2010

Woodrow Wilson International Center for ScholarsWashington, DC

First:

a

qualification

about the clai

m that incomplete combustion

of

biomass leads to

black

particles that cause

health

problems

There is

at least

one critical

exception to this rule:

If instead

of fully

burning it you

merely roast certain types

of

biomass—say,

barley—then the

black

particles can serve to

benefit

health….

Moving on…

How is black carbon being regulated around the world?

It isn’t…per se

Particulate matter (PM) is regulated in some places, but not in others.

Therefore, BC, which is a species of PM, is covered indirectly under some of these laws.

And some PM laws have led to significant BC

reductions.

However, regulations for PM10 are more common than regulations for PM2.5,

which better address BC.

BC is typically .1 μm or smaller (e.g. 300 nm) so these very fine particles are not always effectively addressed when they

are not specifically targeted

Regulations may be needed for BC per se

or

At least for the specific sources that emit the most harmful BC

Sources with high ratios of BC

Not like Guinness

Sources whose emissions are killing people directly

Sources whose emissions effect snow and ice

Where does that lead us?

US-China BC cooperation could be a first step towards a quadrilateral partnership

which might also include the EU and India

Emissions from these four constitute a majority of BC from contained combustion

From USCCSP

Some good things are already being done

But nowhere near enough

Studies and Reports

U.S. Congress has called upon EPA to draft a report on BC including: sources, warming effects, metrics and

potential domestic and international mitigation options

UNEP is undertaking an assessment of non-CO2 climate forcers, with a focus on black carbon

The Arctic Council is conducting an assessment of black carbon impacts

CLTRAP is also investigating how BC can be addressed

USAID is finalizing a report on BC

The Indian government is undertaking a three-year study of the climate effects of black carbon

Acknowledgment and Commitment

“We are also committed to taking rapid action to address other significant climate

forcing agents, such as black carbon.”

Policies and Programs

The US and EU have strong vehicle emissions regulations including standards that eliminate more than 90% of BC from

new diesel vehicles

India has recently launched a National Biomass Cookstoves Initiative

Additional Efforts Needed

The US and EU should also require in-use vehicles to be retrofitted with DPFs, the

filters that reduce BC over 90%

India should make sure that the cookstoves used in the program effectively address BC,

and don’t just reduce emissions of other, perhaps cooling, particles. Then the effort should be scaled up to tens of millions of

stoves

Four things to consider

And to discuss over the next hour or so

Key Actions to Reduce BC

• Cooking stove replacements• Diesel vehicles: engine efficiency, filter,

retirement and retrofit requirements• Improve efficiency of industrial boilers,

kilns and coke ovens• Reduce springtime agricultural burning,

especially near ice and snow

Policies to Catalyze Key Actions

• Strengthen specific domestic regulations (e.g., PM2.5 standards)

• Mandate filters on all diesel engines

• Regulate springtime burning (and enfo)

• Integrate air pollution, development, health and climate objectives for cost-effectiveness and co-benefits, especially when addressing

cookstoves

Governance Regimes to Coordinate and Facilitate those Policies

UNFCCC: COP 16 Decision Establishing a Work Program for Rapid Climate Mitigation

(as proposed by Micronesia)

Borrow existing regulatory structures - international (IMO, ICAO,

LRTAP etc.) - regional (ASEAN haze treaty,

etc.)

Ensure eligibility in all climate funds (e.g. World Bank, GEF, UNDP)

No international regime?

Different states may prefer different governance regimes

For example, how do China’s concerns and needs differ from those of the United

States or from those of Small Islands?

For more information

Contact Dennis Clare

dclare@igsd.org

Or read IGSD’s BC Climate Briefing Note

available at www.igsd.org