Multilateral efforts to reduce black carbon emissions: A lifeline for the warming arctic?

Rapid reductions in emissions of the short-lived climate forcers black carbon, tropospheric ozone and methane have been identified as an effective strategy to slow rapid warming and melting in the Arctic and other glaciated areas in the near-term, and avert abrupt, irreversible changes while strategies to reduce emissions of CO₂ are implemented to limit long-term consequences. Black carbon is a component of fine particulate matter, a traditional air pollutant with significant health impacts; it has a short atmospheric residence time of about a week, thus emissions reductions provide rapid climate benefit. This article analyses the mitigation approaches that are being discussed in multilateral fora including the Arctic Council, the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution and the International Maritime Organization. Arctic climate dynamics will affect climate globally, which calls for leadership from Arctic nations to spur faster action to abate emissions. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.