Sweden’s work on short-lived climate pollutants
Published
The Government is working actively to reduce emissions and formation of short-lived climate pollutants. These are mainly soot, methane and tropospheric ozone, which remain in the atmosphere for a short time. A reduction of these substances is of great significance to air quality, health, climate impact and food security, and the effect would be quickly apparent.
Sweden has taken a number of initiatives to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants both at home and abroad. Work is taking place at national level to review the possibility of bringing forward the already approved stricter requirements for wood-burning furnaces. Wood burning is a major source of soot emissions in Sweden, and diesel-driven vehicles and machinery also produce substantial emissions. Stricter requirements on machinery are currently being prepared in the EU and the Government is working to ensure that the new requirements lead to noticeably reduced emissions.
The Government is working within the framework of the Arctic Council to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants in the region. When Sweden held the chair of the Arctic Council in 2011–2013, a working group was appointed tasked with proposing concrete goals and measures for future work.
Sweden, together with several other countries, started a global initiative to reduce emissions of these substances, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC). The Coalition works to increase awareness of short-lived climate pollutants and has launched a number of projects aimed at reducing emissions from such sources as diesel vehicles, waste disposal sites, and oil and natural gas production. This work complements efforts to reduce emissions of long-lived greenhouse gases, which are primarily carried out within the framework of the UN Climate Convention.
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