Urgent action needed on black carbon: a key driver of glacier melt and monsoon disruption

Slashing soot is among the fastest, most effective way to slow climate change and reduce air pollution, new study finds 
Black carbon in South Asia a ‘significant driver’ of glacier melt, accelerating loss of secure water supplies for billions of people 
Black carbon and other super pollutants responsible for half of the global warming witnessed to date 
60% of region’s black carbon comes from residential use 
Events at UN in Paris and New York highlight urgency of action on first ever World Day for Glaciers

Regional contribution to black carbon emissions with 60% of emissions in South Asia coming from residential combustion of fuels. Source: Clean Air Fund
A new report by the Clean Air Fund backed by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development calls for urgent action to reduce black carbon emissions.  

Black Carbon (BC), which is commonly seen as soot, is an SLCP or short-lived climate pollutant with a short lifespan but devastating longer term consequences.  

“Black carbon accelerates ice melting in the Arctic and the glaciers, ice sheets, icebergs, and sea ice that make up the wider cryosphere. Black carbon emissions also disrupt Asian and West African monsoon precipitation, leading to increased flooding that adversely impacts agriculture, lives, and livelihoods, and contribute to localised warming and extreme heat.”, says the report. 

In the Hindu Kush Himalaya, addressing BC, through investment in clean cooking, heating, and lighting, can lead to lowered local carbon emissions, improved health outcomes, and more sustainable development. 

“Based on data from 2013, residential solid fuel burning and brick kilns together account for 45%–66% of the anthropogenic black carbon deposition in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, which encompasses parts of eight countries (Afghanistan, 
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, India, and Pakistan)”, states the report. 

According to the report, cooking, heating and lighting are responsible for most of South Asia’s BC emissions. Rice mills, brick making and sugar industries are also significant emitters. 

As a component of fine particulate matter, black carbon contributes to ill health and more than 8 million premature deaths in 2021. It is also a driver of economic costs of air pollution, equivalent to over 6% of global GDP each year, with its impacts particularly felt among the poorest and most marginalised households and workers. 

Black carbon is also a large driver of glacier melt around the world. In one study conducted on a glacier in the Central Himalayas, black carbon contributed to 39% of total mass loss observed during the pre-monsoon. Black carbon is a major reason why the Arctic is warming four times faster than other parts of the world, which is increasing the chances of dangerous climate tipping points being breached. For this reason, the impact of black carbon on the cryosphere deserves particular attention.  
 
The report states that BC reduction could “…minimise rainfall disruptions and avoid rainfall extremes, flooding, and drought.” This has implications for food security especially in a region that is reliant on steady monsoons and reliable rainfall for a good harvest.  

In spite of this, not enough is being done to address black carbon. The Clean Air Fund report identifies six types of obstacles to action - political, scientific, financial, regulatory, industrial and communication. It argues that solutions that already exist could deliver an 80% reduction in black carbon by 2030, from 2010 levels, compared to a 3% reduction on a ‘business as usual’ trajectory. 

Izabella Koziell, Deputy Director General at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) said: "The fastest way to achieve progress on clean air is to target the abatement of black carbon and other super-pollutant sources coming from sectors like residential biomass combustion, transportation and industry, amongst others. ICIMOD's experience in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region shows that investing in cleaner technologies, along with continued advanced monitoring, and a strong policy support mechanism can lead to long-term environmental, economic and health benefits—an approach that is critical for one of the world’s most polluted regions.” 
Key recommendations
Focus on action in the cryosphere, including via the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) requiring ships operating in or near the Arctic to use cleaner fuels, and the Arctic Council setting a new post-2025 black carbon emissions target  
Prioritise black carbon in clean air and energy policies and integrate black carbon targets into national action plans and the current revisions of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 
Take coordinated action on super pollutants (such as holistic waste management solutions that cut both black carbon and methane)  
Fund research to deepen the evidence base for the impact of black carbon on both climate and health, with a focus on the vulnerable groups across global north and global south countries. 
Additional quotes

Jane Burston, CEO of the Clean Air Fund  
“The devastating impacts of climate change are being felt worldwide. Reducing black carbon, alongside other super pollutants, is the fastest, most effective way to slow climate change, while also mitigating the enormous health impacts of air pollution. Yet to date not enough has been done.”  

Martina Otto, Head of the UNEP-Convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) 
“On this first World Day for Glaciers, the urgency to cut black carbon has never been clearer. Now we must quickly move to scale up solutions. We are working with governments and partners to overcome the barriers identified in this report, integrate black carbon reductions into climate strategies, and turn commitments into action.” 
About International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region stretches 3,500km across Asia, spanning eight countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Encompassing high-altitude mountain ranges, mid-hills, and plains, the zone is vital for the food, water, and energy security of up to two billion people and is a habitat for countless irreplaceable species. It is also acutely fragile, and vulnerable to the impacts of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), based in Kathmandu, Nepal, is an international organisation established in 1983, that is working to make this critical region greener, more inclusive and climate resilient. For more information, read our Strategy 2030 and explore our website.
About Clean Air Fund

Air pollution is the largest environmental threat to human health worldwide. The Clean Air Fund is a global philanthropic organisation that works with governments, campaigners, researchers, funders and businesses to create a world where everyone breathes clean air.

Notes

The report launched at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 21 March,14:00-15:30 CET. Speakers included Dr. Heïdi Sevestre, Deputy Secretary, Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme; Dr. Miriam Jackson, Nordic and Eurasia Director, International Cryosphere Climate Initiative; Denise San Valentin, Programme Management Officer, Climate and Clean Air Coalition; Professor Heitor Evangelista Da Silva, Professor at the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro; Humphrey Reuben Maganga, Eastern Africa Province of the Society of Jesus; and Sampriti Mukherjee, Senior Analyst, Super Pollutants, Clean Air Fund.

On the same day, the first-ever World Day for Glaciers and UN World Water Development Report was also launched at a high-level event at the UN headquarters in New York.