Co-benefit reductions of short-lived climate pollutants and air pollutants by 2050 while achieving the 2 degree target in Asia

Abstract

This study analyses co-benefit reductions of short-lived climate pollutants and air pollutants due to the effects of carbon dioxide mitigation measures for achieving a 2 °C global temperature change limit above pre-industrial levels. This study focuses on the following points: an estimation of technological mitigation potentials and costs of the greenhouse gases (a), and an assessment of co-benefit mitigations of short-lived climate pollutants and air pollutants in Asia due to the effects of low-carbon measures (b). Mitigation measures such as energy efficiency improvement in the demand sectors and the shift to less-carbon intensive or non-fossil fuel energies in the supply sector play important roles in reducing carbon dioxide as well as short-lived climate pollutants and air pollutants largely, especially in rapidly developing countries in Asia. Emissions of methane, black carbon, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and fine particulate matter in Asia are reduced around 23%, 63%, 73%, 27% and 65% in 2050 correspondingly, compared to the 2010 levels due to the co-benefits in drastic carbon dioxide mitigation measures. These co-benefits are much larger than effects of taking measures only for air pollutant reductions.