Climate and Clean Air Coalition Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment

There are many paths we can take to achieve the Paris target, but not all paths are the same. Some will generate significant benefits in the near term for climate and other development priorities. Other will have chiefly longer-term benefits. Strategies that integrate all climate forcing air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, such as those that target the short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), can contribute to a path that rapidly reduces the rate of warming in the near-term, prevents millions of premature deaths from air pollution, protects against dangerous climate feedback loops, and contributes to the global sustainable development goals. In order to achieve the Paris Agreement target of well below 2˚C (1.5˚C), and do this within the context of sustainable development, an integrated and rapid reduction of air pollutants and greenhouse gases that impact the climate in the near- and long-term is needed. Both the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for such integration.

In 2019, the CCAC launched an Action Programme to Address the 1.5˚C Challenge to assist and encourage countries that wish to increase the overall efforts to tackle climate change and air pollution in an integrated way and catalyze ambitious fast action on solutions that produce quick results and multiple benefits.

14:55-15:40 - The Power of Integrated Action on Air Pollution and Climate: Stories from China and Africa

Country and city examples of integrated work on air quality and climate experience with the multiple benefits pathway framework and plans for using this integrated multiple benefits approach to enhance action on NDCs.

Speakers:

• Gyimah Mohammed, Assistant Director, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Ghana
• Bala Bappa, National SNAP Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria
• Steven L. Kukoda, Executive Director, International Copper Association [TBC]
• Nathan Borgford-Parnell, Science Affairs, Climate and Clean Air Coalition
• Yu Jianhua, Deputy Director General, Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau

16:45-17:30 - Putting the world on a safe path to meet the 1.5˚C Challenge

In this session presenters will make the scientific case for integrated action on air pollution and climate to unlock the urgent ambition the world needs to achieve a safe path to our climate targets and provide real world examples from CCAC partner countries who are already proving the value of this multiple-benefits pathway approach.

Speakers:

• Johan Kuylenstierna, Policy Director, Stockholm Environment Institute, York
• Helena Molin Valdes, Head of Secretariat, Climate and Clean Air Coalition
• Rodolfo Lacy, Director for the Environment Directorate, OECD
• Luke Davey, Business Operations Manager, Inspira Farms
• Emmanuel de Guzman, Secretary of Climate Change, Climate Change Commission, Philippines [TBC]

15:00 – 15:45 - Towards Integrated Action on Air Pollution and Climate Change

In this session presenters will illustrate the enormous multiple-benefits of integrated action on air pollution and climate by showcasing new Integrated Assessments including the Air Pollution in Asia and the Pacific: Science-Based Solutions and the new Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment. We will discuss how such assessments can drive policy decisions. The CCAC will also present the plans for a new African Integrated Assessment.

Speakers:

• Yasuo Takahashi, Vice Minister for Global Affairs, Minister of Environment, Japan [TBC]
• Albert Magalang, Head, Climate Change Office, EMB-DENR, Philippines [TBC]
• Dechen Tsering, Director, Asia and the Pacific Office UN Environment
• Arnico Panday, Senior Atmospheric Scientist and Coordinator of the Atmosphere Initiative, ICIMOD
• Alice Akinyi Kaudia, Co-Chair of the CCAC Working Group, Kenya