Research 248: Assessment of Actions to Support the Work of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition

Author: Tara Shine

Summary: Ireland became a member of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) in 2013 to demonstrate commitment to climate and air pollution issues and to improve policy coherence between climate and air policy. This small-scale study, identifies ways in which Ireland can contribute to and benefit from its participation in the CCAC. The study pays particular attention to CCAC efforts to reduce Short-lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs).

Published: 2018

ISBN: 978-1-84095-774-7

Pages: 44

Filesize: 1,048 KB

Format: pdf

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Identifying Pressures

Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) are hazardous air pollutants that have various detrimental impacts on human health, agricultural production and ecosystems. Control of SLCPs also has an important role to play in climate mitigation. In 2011 a scientific assessment co-ordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) identified 16 SLCP control measures that, if implemented globally by 2030, could deliver significant benefits for near-term climate protection and air quality. The relatively short lifetimes of SLCPs mean that climate benefits can be achieved quickly after the mitigation action occurs, with additional benefits for air quality and health.

Informing Policy

Ireland became a member of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) in 2013, demonstrating its commitment to climate and air pollution issues and to improve policy coherence. The CCAC brings together governments, civil society and private sector actors committed to improving air quality and protecting the climate by reducing SLCPs. Several areas were identified in the study where Ireland could benefit from accessing the experience of others, for example in relation to policies to:

1. incentivise the adoption of hybrid technologies in the freight industry;
2. incentivise the uptake of anaerobic digesters to both reduce emissions from biodegradable household and use agricultural slurry and manure to produce gas as a transport fuel; and
3. enable the substitution of HFCs.

Developing Solutions

Participation in the CCAC will help Ireland access information, tools and experiences that could inform emerging policy and action in SLCPs. Ireland is also eligible to access technical advice and tools for SLCPs through the CCAC Supporting National Planning for Action on SLCPs (SNAP) initiative. The objective of the SNAP initiative is to support rapid and large-scale implementation of SLCP mitigation at the national level. The report also finds that Ireland has experience to share with CCAC members in relation to clean cooking (from its Development Cooperation programme), agriculture (work nationally and internationally on climate-smart agriculture) and air quality (including smoky coal bans).