Towards an action plan for near-term climate protection and clean air benefits
This document is designed to inform decision makers about additional opportunities to slow the observed rate of climate change and at the same time achieve air quality benefits over the next two to four decades. This can be realised by implementing measures to reduce atmospheric levels of methane, black carbon and tropospheric ozone, as well as many hydrofluorocarbons. These substances are called “short-lived climate forcers” (or SLCFs) because of their relatively short lifetime in the atmosphere and significant impact on climate change. It is important to understand that the opportunities presented by action on short-lived climate forcers do not in any way preclude the necessity for immediate and concerted global action on long-lived greenhouse gases, such as CO2, to protect the climate in the longer term.