What is black carbon?

Wikipedia:

Black carbon is a potent climate forcing agent, estimated to be the second largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide (CO2). Because black carbon remains in the atmosphere only for a few weeks, reducing black carbon emissions may be the fastest means of slowing climate change in the near-term.

NY Times:

In fact, reducing black carbon is one of a number of relatively quick and simple climate fixes using existing technologies — often called “low hanging fruit” — that scientists say should be plucked immediately to avert the worst projected consequences of global warming.

Report of the IGSD (pdf):

New and Stronger Efforts Are Needed to Address Black Carbon

New and stronger efforts are needed to address Black Carbon, at all levels, from local to international. An initial list of options at the international and regional level includes:

• Developing a treaty under UNEP.
• Expanding the post-2012 UN climate treaty.
• Developing a regional arrangement under the Arctic Council.
• Establishing specially protected areas to restrict shipping in the Arctic and other areas sensitive to Black Carbon’s change in albedo.
• Expanding and strengthening controls on shipping under the Int’l Maritime Organization.
• Expanding and strengthening controls on aviation under the Int’l Civil Aviation Organization
• Expanding and strengthening controls on stationary and mobile sources under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution.

Building on the existing national laws noted below in the discussion on compliance, there are many options at the national and local level to develop new and stronger laws to address Black Carbon. These laws can be pursued by parliamentarian groups such as GLOBE, as well as by national lawmaking bodies. In addition, there are other policy processes that can be used t address black carbon immediately, including:

• Using World Bank Climate Investment Fund to help reduce Black Carbon.
• Emphasizing climate benefits and other synergies of reducing Black Carbon with the World
• Health Organization’s efforts to reduce indoor air pollution and improve the health of women and children.
• Emphasizing importance of Black Carbon for achieving Millennium Development Goals.
• Pursuing and accounting for the benefits of Black Carbon in the World Summit for
• Sustainable Development’s (WSSD) efforts to provide access for the poor to clean energy resources.

One important outcome of the WSSD was UNEP’s Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles, which has facilitated the transition to unleaded fuels and is now focusing expanding the availability of ultralow sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel.97 This fuel not only lowers sulfur emissions, leading to less overall air pollution, but also allows the most effective particulate emissions control technologies to be used.