CCAC Hosts Super Pollutants Workshop During Baku Action Climate Week

Baku, Azerbaijan-The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) successfully conducted a workshop focused on super pollutants on 3 October 2024 during the Baku Action Climate Week, drawing participation from country delegates, media representatives, and technical experts. 

Key Messages Emphasized

• Non-CO₂ superpollutants are crucial to address due to their much higher global warming potential than CO₂, making their reduction highly important for immediate climate impact mitigation.
• CCAC can help and support in advancing super pollutants mitigation through its initiatives and multi-sectoral approach like reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector, reducing methane and black carbon in the waste sector through innovation and valorization, and reducing non-CO₂super pollutants through policy development and implementation across sectors.
• Effective regulation is a key element in emissions reduction across multiple sectors as it sets out enforceable standards and incentivizes climate action and measures.

The workshop highlighted the importance of effective regulation in driving emissions reductions, establishing enforceable standards that incentivize climate action. Participants noted that significant opportunities for mitigating super pollutants exist beyond fossil fuels, particularly in sectors like agriculture, cooling, heavy-duty vehicles, household energy, and waste management.

Session Highlights

Session 1a: Dr. Arindam Roy from the Clean Air Fund outlined the science behind super pollutants, explaining that these warming agents—including methane, tropospheric ozone, and black carbon—are far more potent than CO₂ per tonne. He emphasized the urgency of mitigating these pollutants to protect public health and achieve the 1.5°C climate target.

Session 1b: Ana Maria Kleymeyer, Senior Consultant, Global Climate Law and Policy provided guidance on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), urging countries to incorporate non-CO₂ mitigation goals into their climate targets and integrate air quality planning to enhance climate and health benefits.

Session 2: James Turitto, Director, Global Campaigns, Methane Pollution Prevention discussed the Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme, highlighting the need for effective capacity-building initiatives to support methane abatement in developing countries. He noted that the program would offer tailored support to up to 20 developing countries from 2024 to 2027.

Session 3: Anja Schwetje from the UBA/CCAC Waste Hub Co-Lead addressed methane emissions in the waste sector, revealing that waste accounts for 20% of global methane emissions, primarily due to landfilling and open burning. Schwetje called for a shift away from landfill-based systems and emphasized the need for investment in waste diversion and composting to create jobs and reduce emissions.

The workshop concluded with a consensus on the urgency of addressing super pollutants and the collaborative efforts required across sectors. Participants left motivated to incorporate the insights gained into their climate strategies and expressed eagerness for further resources and support.