| Summary: | "Black carbon is composed of fine particles that are produced from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, wood, crop waste and other biomass, and refuse. Fine particles (known as PM2.5), of which black carbon is one constituent, have well known and significant adverse impacts on human health. Many governments have taken action to reduce emissions of particles on the grounds of health impact alone. In addition to the human health impacts, black carbon also has a significant impact on the environment, in particular in the Arctic. Black carbon is one of several Short Lived Climate Forcers (“SLCF”) that includes substances such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and methane. Strong evidence indicates that black carbon contributes to climate change by warming the atmosphere and by darkening the surface of snow and ice, speeding melting. Therefore, action to reduce emissions of black carbon that transport to areas such as the Arctic have the potential to result in near-term slowing of glacial  melt. Recent studies suggest that black carbon is responsible for observed warming in the Arctic. Unlike long-lived greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, black carbon’s warming effects are short-lived, and therefore reductions in emissions will help mitigate Arctic warming in the near term. Action on black carbon would complement long-term CO2 mitigation, help reduce the localized albedo effect that is speeding melting of Arctic ice, and result in localized improvements in human health among indigenous peoples and Arctic populations. The topic of black carbon and other short-lived climate forcers was extensively discussed at the last Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council, held April 20, 2009 in Tromsø, Norway. Ministers, in their Tromsø Declaration: “Urge implementation of early actions where possible on methane and other short-lived climate forcers” According to the Arctic Council Rules of Procedure and the agreed Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP) guidance on project development, “most ACAP projects (inter alia ...
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