The use of low sulphur fuels opens up the possibility of one method – fitting particle or black carbon filters to heavy duty vehicles.
Efforts under the UNEP-hosted Clean Fuels and Vehicles Partnership, originally established to phase lead out of petrol, are now focused on reducing sulphur levels in transport fuels. The Coalition is planning to build off of UNEP’s existing sulphur reduction efforts to also tackle black carbon emissions.
Promoting Alternatives to HFCs
HFCs (hydroflurocarbons) are increasingly being used as replacements to CFCs (chlorofluorocarbon) in areas such as air conditioners, refrigeration and foams because they have zero impact on the ozone layer – the Earth’s shield that filters out dangerous levels of the sun’s ultra-violet rays.
However, studies indicate that some HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases and if these become wide-spread, they could be responsible for emissions equivalent to 3.5 to 8.8 Gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide (Gt CO2eq) – comparable to current annual emissions from the entire global transport system, estimated at around 6-7 Gt annually.
There are many climate-friendlier replacements available and opportunities to reduce HFC emissions through advanced technologies as well as best service practices.
The Coalition is catalyzing awareness of the risks and the alternatives. It convened a packed meeting of industry and governments in Bangkok, Thailand aimed at fast tracking these aims.
Emissions from the Oil and Gas Industry
Venting and leakage from oil and gas systems account for over a fifth of global man-made methane emissions and represent estimated economic losses of $ 27 billion to over $ 60 billion a year.
An estimated one-third of these losses can be reduced at zero cost with existing technologies and practices. Meanwhile, flaring also leads to emissions of black carbon.
Action is underway to address the issue through initiatives such as the Global Methane Initiative, the Natural Gas STAR International Program, and the Global Gas Flaring Reduction (GGFR) Partnership.
The Coalition is planning to build upon those efforts by working with industry, countries and investors to catalyze accelerated action.
The Coalition was launched in Washington, D.C. by six countries and UNEP – Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden and the USA – by US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner.
Source: UNEP.
