The Climate Imperative: Integrating Short-lived Climate Pollutants in Public Policy

Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) such as methane, black carbon, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons have contributed to up to 45% of net warming to date and have significant impacts on human health and the environment. Moreover, the 2022 Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlighted the imperative to slash methane emissions by 2030 which has a global warming potential 80 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. However, historically, SLCPs, including methane, have not been adequately addressed in policymaking at the national and sub-national levels. By incorporating SLCPs mitigation in subnational plans (state and local climate action plans) and national policies (NDCs, carbon neutrality targets), governments can accelerate the implementation of climate targets to stay on a pathway to 1.5C, attract greater investment to scale up action; and deliver immediate socio-economic benefits to our communities and enhance our food and agriculture systems.

To rise up to this imperative, this session brings together the experience and expertise of actors across subnational governments, civil society organizations and others that are working on integrating SLCPs in policy-making across key economic sectors. The session will also discuss the opportunities and challenges that come from ambition to implementation of these policies and the role climate finance can play in unlocking solutions to slash SLCPs in our lifetimes for the people and the planet.