Journal Article

Simultaneously Mitigating Near-Term Climate Change and Improving Human Health and Food Security

Schwartz, Joel, Emberson, Lisa, Shindell, Drew, Williams, Martin, Pozzoli, Luca, Amann, Markus, Kupiainen, Kaarle, Streets, David, Hicks, Kevin, Faluvegi, Greg, Milly, George, Anenberg, Susan C., Klimont, Zbigniew, Demkine, Volodymyr, Fowler, David, Kuylenstierna, Johan C. I., Ramanathan, V., Oanh, N. T. Kim, Raes, Frank, Muller, Nicholas, Vignati, Elisabetta, Janssens-Maenhout, Greet, Höglund-Isaksson, Lena, van Dingenen, Rita

2012

Overview

Tropospheric ozone and black carbon (BC) contribute to both degraded air quality and global warming. We considered ~400 emission control measures to reduce these pollutants by using current technology and experience. We identified 14 measures targeting methane and BC emissions that reduce projected global mean warming ~0.5°C by 2050. This strategy avoids 0.7 to 4.7 million annual premature deaths from outdoor air pollution and increases annual crop yields by 30 to 135 million metric tons due to ozone reductions in 2030 and beyond. Benefits of methane emissions reductions are valued at $700 to $5000 per metric ton, which is well above typical marginal abatement costs (less than $250). The selected controls target different sources and influence climate on shorter time scales than those of carbon dioxide-reduction measures. Implementing both substantially reduces the risks of crossing the 2°C threshold.

• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science,The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subject: Aerosols / Air Pollutants - analysis / Air pollution / Air Pollution - prevention & control / Air quality / Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding / Albedo / Applied sciences / Atmospheric pollution / Biological and medical sciences / Black carbon / carbon / Carbon dioxide / Climate / Climate Change / Climate models / Climatology. Bioclimatology. Climate change / Computer Simulation / control methods / Cost-Benefit Analysis / Crop yield / Earth, ocean, space / Emission measurements / emissions / Emissions control / Emissions reduction / Environment. Living conditions / Exact sciences and technology / External geophysics / Food security / Food Supply / Global climate models / Global warming / Health / human health / Humans / Medical sciences / Meteorology / Methane / Methane - analysis / Mortality, Premature / Ozone / Ozone - analysis / Pollutant emissions / Pollutants / Pollution / Pollution control / Public health / Public health. Hygiene / Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine / RESEARCH ARTICLE / Risk reduction / Soot - analysis / Troposphere