Canada Announces New Investments in Clean Air Solutions

GLOBE-Net, April 10, 2013 – Canada’s Environment Minister Peter Kent has announced an additional $10 million contribution to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants and a $2.5 million contribution to the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN).

The announcement was made prior to the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate where representatives of 17 major economies are scheduled to meet in Washington, D.C., this week.

“As an Arctic nation, Canada understands first-hand the importance of addressing short-lived climate pollutants,” said Minister Kent.

This contribution is in addition to Canada’s previous contribution of $3 million to the CCAC’s Trust Fund and $7 million for projects that support the mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants in developing countries.

These investments are part of Canada’s Fast-Start Financing commitment under the Copenhagen Accord to provide $1.2 billion in new and additional financing to support climate change action in developing countries.

The CCAC was launched in February 2012 by six founding countries, including Canada, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The CCAC has since grown to 56 members and is already acting on several fronts including supporting the development of national action plans and sector-based initiatives in such areas as reducing SLCPs from municipal solid waste, heavy duty vehicles and engines, oil and natural gas production, and brick production.

The CTCN was established through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This initiative responds directly to the expressed need of developing countries for more rapid deployment of the best available technologies to help them confront the climate challenge – both to reduce emissions and to build resilience to climate impacts.

The CTCN will provide tailored advice and assistance to developing countries on climate change adaptation and mitigation technologies. Through collaboration with the private sector and other institutions, the CTCN will also encourage the development and transfer of existing and emerging environmentally sound technologies.

Short-lived climate pollutants include black carbon (soot), were recently recognized as the second most powerful climate pollutant after carbon dioxide, methane and ground-level ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are used as refrigerants and to make insulating foams.

Fast action to reduce these pollutants has the potential to cut the rate of climate change in half, slowing global temperature rise by up to ~0.6°C by 2050, while preventing 2.4 million air pollution-related deaths per year and avoiding around 30 million tonnes of crop losses annually according to recent reports. See GLOBE-Net article ” Climate and Clean Air Coalition One Year Old Today“.

Mre information on  Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants is available here

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