New Directions: Support for integrated decision-making in air and climate policies - Development of a metrics-based information portal

Air pollution and climate change are inextricably linked (Jacob and Winner, 2009). However, they are normally treated separately which can lead to incoherent strategies. An example is domestic biomass heating dubbed as a climate friendly option, however, co-emitted air pollutants, such as black carbon, decrease air quality significantly (Williams, 2012). To support integrated thinking on air and climate policies, that is taking into account co-benefits and avoiding of trade-offs, currently available scientific information needs to be better linked and made available in a more comparable, comprehensive and accessible format at various decision-making levels. Here we report on the plans to develop a framework that will be strongly grounded in the science that would relate disconnected pieces of information for discussions between scientist and policy makers targeted at maximizing co-benefits and avoiding trade-offs in relation to existing policy targets. This proposal is the main outcome of a workshop held in October 2013, where about 30 scientific experts and policy makers invited by the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) and the European Environment Agency (EEA) discussed how the scientific knowledge base on air-climate interactions can be best made available to policy makers and other stakeholders, as well as the needs of decision-makers in this arena. Participants from Europe, Asia and the USA represented climate, atmospheric, and health sciences, environmental agencies, national and regional policy makers, NGOs, and international organizations.

Schmale, J., J. van Aardenne, E. von Schneidemesser (2014) New Directions: Support for integrated decision-making in air and climate policies - Development of a metrics-based information portal, Atmospheric Environment (Accepted Manuscript).