Anilla Cherian - Air Pollution, Clean Energy and Climate Change

Innovative forms of NNSA partnerships on curbing air pollution, mitigating SLCPs and increasing access to clean energy for the poor are essential in averting the air pollution catastrophe. The role of NNSAs including cities in driving climate responsive and clean energy actions especially in regions of the world where air pollution threatens lives is undeniable. Chapter 4examines the urgency of urban air pollution by focusing on the linkages between urbanization and PM air pollution. It also discusses the role of cities as the new loci for integrated climate and clean air responsive action and then moves on highlighting the significance of PM pollution for India and Indian cities. India is the third‐largest aggregate GHG emitter, but it has the lowest per capita emissions amongst the top ten leading national GHG emitters, and it has long argued that poverty eradication and equity considerations need to be factored in its climate change response. But now the toxic problem of air pollution threatens future development in India at many levels. The chapter’s conclusion urges the need for cleaner, inclusive and greener future for cities.

Chapter 5delves into the issue of curbing SLCPs as a means to address not just climate change but also health, food and water insecurities experienced primarily in developing countries. Global environmental problems such as climate change are broadly defined as global challenges which cannot be contained within the confines of a state, or a set of adjoining states, and are therefore viewed as requiring multilateral or global responses within the UN. In contrast, air pollution within the UN context has been defined as a transboundary regional problem for the most part. Chapter 5focuses on the importance of curbing SLCPs in particular BC emissions. It also focuses on providing a brief overview of the UN’s only regional air pollution treaty – the CLRTAP a and its Gothenburg Protocol, which is the world’s first protocol aimed at PM 2.5emissions reductions. The idea is to highlight a few key lessons learned and implications for other regions in the world that are faced with the toxic levels of PM pollution. This chapter also focuses on specific measures for curbing SLCPs that have been highlighted by CCAC which endorsed the 2011 recommendations made by UNEP/WMO in their joint integrated assessment. The role of the CCAC as the only globally relevant yet voluntary partnership network that could serve as a model for improving air quality and mitigating SLCPs is also briefly touched upon.

Chapter 6focuses on summarizing that integrated action on the nexus between climate change, air pollution reduction and access to clean energy matters for millions whose voices are not heard in intergovernmental negotiating fora. It further highlights the role of NNSAs such as the private sector by looking at shifts towards low and zero carbon strategies proposed by the CEOs of the two of world’s biggest corporations and asks what if anything fossil‐free divestments mean for clean energy and clean air for the poor? The chapter then provides an overview of the importance of innovative partnership initiatives, modalities and measures that are expressly focused on the reduction of SLCPs. It concludes by providing a brief update on the outcomes of the 2021 COP‐26 (Glasgow) and by arguing that segregated goals/silos on sustainable energy and climate do not enable SLCPs and PM pollution reduction. The absence of integrated and inclusive clean air, clean energy and climate action only worsens the lives of those who already suffer the costs of carbon and air pollution inequities.

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