Integration of Short-Lived Climate Pollutant and air pollutant mitigation in nationally determined contributions

Limiting global temperature increases to 1.5 °C while respecting ‘the right to health’ requires substantial reductions in Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs), including methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons, and co-emitted air pollutants. This study evaluates the inclusion of SLCP and air pollutant mitigation within Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that were submitted between 2015 and 2022. Between pre- and post-2020 NDCs, explicit reference to SLCPs and air pollutant mitigation as priorities more than doubled, indicating a rise in policy attention to these pollutants. There was also a large increase in the percentage of countries including methane and HFCs within the scope of their overall GHG reduction targets, and three countries include explicit black carbon reduction targets. With respect to policy, there was a 45% increase in the number of specific mitigation measures included in NDCs post-2020. Hence, the number of countries with implicit reductions in SLCPs and other air pollutants covered in their NDCs is now also substantially larger compared to pre-2020, due to greater inclusion of mitigation measures that reduce SLCPs and air pollutants alongside (other) GHGs. Local benefits for human health from air pollution improvements is a key priority for more countries in post-2020 NDCs compared to earlier NDC reporting.Many countries now include specific mitigation measures in NDCs that can simultaneously reduce SLCPs and co-emitted air pollutants alongside GHGs, helping to achieve local air quality and health improvements.To demonstrate the achievement of local air pollutant and SLCP reductions, countries focusing on NDC implementation should ensure air pollutants and SLCPs are integrated into climate change monitoring frameworks.Post-2020 NDCs provide many clear examples of how inclusion of SLCPs and air pollutants can both increase climate change mitigation ambition and achieve local development benefits, which could be adopted in other countries. Local benefits for human health from air pollution improvements is a key priority for more countries in post-2020 NDCs compared to earlier NDC reporting. Many countries now include specific mitigation measures in NDCs that can simultaneously reduce SLCPs and co-emitted air pollutants alongside GHGs, helping to achieve local air quality and health improvements. To demonstrate the achievement of local air pollutant and SLCP reductions, countries focusing on NDC implementation should ensure air pollutants and SLCPs are integrated into climate change monitoring frameworks. Post-2020 NDCs provide many clear examples of how inclusion of SLCPs and air pollutants can both increase climate change mitigation ambition and achieve local development benefits, which could be adopted in other countries.

若要在尊重“健康权”的前提下将全球温升控制在1.5℃以内，需大幅削减包括甲烷（methane）、黑碳（black carbon）和氢氟碳化物（hydrofluorocarbons）在内的短期气候污染物（Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, SLCPs）以及协同排放的大气污染物。本研究评估了2015年至2022年间提交的国家自主贡献目标（Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs）中纳入短期气候污染物与大气污染物减排措施的情况。相较于2020年前后的国家自主贡献目标，明确将短期气候污染物与大气污染物减排列为优先事项的占比翻了一番以上，反映出政策层面对这类污染物的关注度有所提升。将甲烷与氢氟碳化物纳入整体温室气体（Greenhouse Gas, GHG）减排目标范畴的国家占比也大幅提升，另有3个国家明确提出了黑碳减排目标。在政策层面，2020年后提交的国家自主贡献目标中纳入的具体减排措施数量增长了45%。因此，得益于将同时削减短期气候污染物、大气污染物与（其他）温室气体的减排措施纳入规划，当前其国家自主贡献目标中隐含涵盖短期气候污染物与其他大气污染物减排的国家数量，相较2020年前也已显著增加。相较于早期的国家自主贡献目标报告，2020年后的目标中，将改善大气污染带来的人类健康本地效益列为核心优先事项的国家数量更多。如今诸多国家已在国家自主贡献目标中纳入可同时削减短期气候污染物、协同排放的大气污染物与温室气体的具体减排措施，助力实现本地空气质量改善与健康效益提升。为验证本地大气污染物与短期气候污染物减排的成效，聚焦国家自主贡献目标落实的国家应确保将大气污染物与短期气候污染物纳入气候变化监测框架。2020年后的国家自主贡献目标提供了诸多清晰范例，表明纳入短期气候污染物与大气污染物治理，既能够提升气候变化减缓力度，又可实现本地发展效益，可供其他国家借鉴采用。相较于早期的国家自主贡献目标报告，2020年后的目标中，将改善大气污染带来的人类健康本地效益列为核心优先事项的国家数量更多。如今诸多国家已在国家自主贡献目标中纳入可同时削减短期气候污染物、协同排放的大气污染物与温室气体的具体减排措施，助力实现本地空气质量改善与健康效益提升。为验证本地大气污染物与短期气候污染物减排的成效，聚焦国家自主贡献目标落实的国家应确保将大气污染物与短期气候污染物纳入气候变化监测框架。2020年后的国家自主贡献目标提供了诸多清晰范例，表明纳入短期气候污染物与大气污染物治理，既能够提升气候变化减缓力度，又可实现本地发展效益，可供其他国家借鉴采用。