WHY ACT NOW ON SLCPS?Key short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), including methane, black carbon, tropospheric ozone, and many hydrofluorocarbons, are responsible for a substantial fraction of near term climate change, with a particularly large impact in sensitive regions of the world. Fast action to reduce these pollutants has the potential to slow down the warming expected by 2050 by as much as 0.5°C, as well as prevent over two million premature deaths each year and avoid annual crop losses of over 30 million tons.

These actions need to be complemented by deep and rapid cuts in carbon dioxide emissions if the global mean temperature increases over the 21st century is to be held below 2°C.

Fact Sheet

www.unep.org/ccac

Heavy duty diesel vehicles, engines, and equipment are significant and continuing global sources of black carbon, toxics, greenhouse gases, and other harmful diesel emissions. An estimated 19% of global black carbon emissions come from the transportation sector, with a relatively large share coming from diesel vehicles. Black carbon typically constitutes about 75% of particulate matter emitted from older legacy fleet diesel engines. Particulate matter is among the top human health risk factors, resulting in millions of premature deaths worldwide. Major sources of diesel emissions include road transport and non-road transport, such

as construction and agricultural equipment, locomotives, and marine vessels.

The CCAC response

Opportunities exist in all countries that will allow for the reduction in black carbon emissions from heavy duty diesel vehicles and engines. The three pronged approach of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) initiative will work concurrently to reduce black carbon-induced global warming and lower health impacts and premature deaths due to exposure to diesel exhaust.

HEAVY DUTY DIESEL VEHICLES & ENGINES

School kids wearing protective clothing due to pollution. © Still Pictures

An estimated 19% of global black carbon

emissions come from the

transportation sector.

Nov

embe

r 20

12

First, through the Green Goods Movement Supply Chain Partnerships, the Coalition initiates a market-incentivized, public-private catalytic collaboration designed to accelerate the adoption of emission-reducing and fuel-saving technologies, as well as the adoption of operational strategies in the global freight transportation supply chain.

Second, the CCAC’s City Action Plans creates a catalytic initiative to reduce diesel emissions in urban areas. The initiative works with city governments and stakeholders committing to reduce emissions from diesel engines and equipment. Cities identify major emission sources and develop tailored action plans, drawing on each city’s past experience in diesel emission reduction, successful experiences of other cities and countries, and new innovative approaches.

Third, National Programs to Adopt Fuel and Emission Standards follow a systems approach, addressing fuels and vehicles as one system. The introduction of low sulfur fuels is an essential first step of this initiative as it will allow the introduction of tighter emissions standards and the introduction of vehicle emissions control technologies. The benefits would not only be reduced black carbon emissions, but also improved air quality and fuel economy.

Goals and objectivesThe CCAC intiative aims to reduce climate and health impacts of black carbon (BC) and, concurrently, particulate matter (PM) emissions from diesel vehicles, engines and equipment. There is a major opportunity to make significant reductions in the BC/PM emissions from the global heavy duty diesel fleet. While many countries, and cities, are still to adopt standards and policies to regulate the BC/PM emissions from their fleets, there are many examples of programs that have seen BC/PM emissions reduced by 70% or more. Putting these standards in place now is timely, as the heavy duty diesel fleet is set to increase sharply, especially in developing countries. Because diesel vehicles are central to the commercial activity of global goods movement and export driven economies, powerful market forces can be leveraged to incentivize and accelerate efficiency improvements which save fuel and reduce costs as well as reduce emissions. The business case for more environmentally efficient goods movement is further strengthened by rising energy prices and can help drive commitments by countries, regional institutions, cities, the private sector, and other major stakeholders to achieve catalytic, large-scale, and replicable reductions of black carbon emissions from heavy duty diesel vehicles and engines.

First actionsA set of quick start CCAC activities is now being implemented in Asia and Latin America, supporting leading countries in these regions to develop best practices. Central in all activities will be capacity building. NGOs, industry, and government partners will work together to better understand the challenges and needs that exist in the region. Then, these groups will design, build, and implement market-based, public-partnerships for interventions at the national and city level and in the freight sector. The initiative will aim to harmonize approaches with related global efforts to accelerate black carbon emission reductions and fuel efficiency increases along global supply chains. Opportunities will be created to share global best practices and lessons learned.

Expected results Successful implementation of the CCAC diesel initiative will result in quantifiable and significant, near term and long term reductions of black carbon, toxics, greenhouse gases and other harmful diesel emissions from each of the participating countries; and quantifiable and significant, fuel and cost savings which benefit the partners, offer payback on technology adoption, strengthen economies and enhance energy security; and expanded markets for emission reducing and fuel saving technologies.

More informationThe CCAC is a voluntary partnership uniting governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and representatives of civil society and the private sector in the first global effort to treat SLCPs as a collective challenge.

SecretariatClimate and Clean Air Coaliton to Reduce Short-Lived Climate PollutantsUnited Nations Environment Programme

www.unep.org/ccac

ccac_secretariat@unep.org

High Sulphur smoking bus interaction with pedestrians © Max Ahman

www.unep.org/ccac

There is a major opportunity

to make significant reductions in the BC/PM emissions

from the global heavy duty

diesel fleet.