18/06/15

CO2 doesn’t act alone in warming the planet

Copyright: Kemal Jufri / Panos

By: Lou Del Bello

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<h1>CO2 doesn’t act alone in warming the planet</h1>
<h4>By: Lou Del Bello</h4>
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<p><iframe loading="lazy" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/210880457&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br />
<em>If you are unable to listen to this audio, please update your browser or <a href="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/210880457/download?client_id=b45b1aa10f1ac2941910a7f0d10f8e28&oauth_token=1-16343-47894121-334d8206d82f348">click here to download the file [8MB]</a>.  </em></p>
<p>Carbon dioxide is the main driver of global warming, but it doesn’t act alone. <a href="https://www.scidev.net/environment/pollution/">Pollutants</a> such as methane and soot also play a part, although they have very different impacts from CO<sub>2</sub>.<br />
 <br />
While CO<sub>2</sub> lingers in the atmosphere, the so-called short-lived pollutants mostly disappear within weeks — or a few years at most.<br />
 <br />
Targeting policies at phasing out short-lived pollutants such as methane or soot can improve human <a href="https://www.scidev.net/health/">health</a> in places where people still burn kerosene for cooking and lighting. But this risks diverting resources away from efforts to reduce CO<sub>2 </sub>emissions, which will irreparably damage the planet in the long term. <br />
 <br />
Which category should <a href="https://www.scidev.net/governance/policy/">policymakers</a> focus on mitigating first? In this audio piece, two experts with different points of view examine the dilemma.</p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/multimedia/co2-warming-planet-climate-pollution-methane/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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If you are unable to listen to this audio, please update your browser or click here to download the file [8MB].

Carbon dioxide is the main driver of global warming, but it doesn’t act alone. Pollutants such as methane and soot also play a part, although they have very different impacts from CO₂.

While CO₂ lingers in the atmosphere, the so-called short-lived pollutants mostly disappear within weeks — or a few years at most.

Targeting policies at phasing out short-lived pollutants such as methane or soot can improve human health in places where people still burn kerosene for cooking and lighting. But this risks diverting resources away from efforts to reduce CO₂emissions, which will irreparably damage the planet in the long term.

Which category should policymakers focus on mitigating first? In this audio piece, two experts with different points of view examine the dilemma.