Curbing black carbon emissions for health and Arctic climate benefits

The Arctic Council together with Finland will host an official side event on black carbon at the UNFCCC COP24 in Katowice, Poland. Reducing emissions of black carbon can help to mitigate climate change globally, but particularly in the Arctic. It also brings considerable health benefits. This side event will present current knowledge on black carbon, and its climate and health impacts, as well as initiatives to reduce emissions by the Arctic Council and other stakeholders.

Opening Remarks:

Kimmo Tiilikainen, Minister of the Environment, Finland

Henryk Kowalczyk, Minister of the Environment of Poland 

List of panelists, in order of presentation:

• Kaarle Kupiainen, Senior Specialist, Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) and the Ministry of the Environment, Finland
  Presentation: Black carbon in the Arctic and mitigation options – emissions and policies
• Raimo O. Salonen, Chief Medical Officer, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland
  Presentation: Black carbon associated adverse health effects
• Rodolfo Lacy, Director, Environment Directorate of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  Presentation: Air pollution and economic impacts
• John Bennett, Aleut International Association
  Presentation: Black carbon and indigenous communities, a case study from Alaska
• Helena Molin Valdès, Head of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Secretariat
  Presentation: The black carbon activities of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition
• Michael Stanley, Global Lead Gas & Mining, The World Bank
  Presentation: The “Zero Routine Flaring by 2030” Initiative

Moderator: Professor Mikael Hildén, Chair of the Arctic Council Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane