Simultaneously Mitigating Near-Term Climate Change and Improving Human Health and Food Security
January 13, 2012
Science 13 January 2012:
Vol. 335 no. 6065 pp. 183-189
DOI: 10.1126/science.1210026
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Simultaneously Mitigating Near-Term Climate Change and Improving Human Health and Food Security
Drew Shindell1,*, Johan C. I. Kuylenstierna2, Elisabetta Vignati3, Rita van Dingenen3, Markus Amann4, Zbigniew Klimont4, Susan C. Anenberg5, Nicholas Muller6, Greet Janssens-Maenhout3, Frank Raes3, Joel Schwartz7, Greg Faluvegi1, Luca Pozzoli3,†, Kaarle Kupiainen4, Lena Höglund-Isaksson4, Lisa Emberson2, David Streets8, V. Ramanathan9, Kevin Hicks2, N. T. Kim Oanh10, George Milly1, Martin Williams11, Volodymyr Demkine12, David Fowler13
ABSTRACT
Tropospheric ozone and black carbon (BC) contribute to both degraded air quality and global warming. We considered ~400 emission control measures to reduce these pollutants by using current technology and experience. We identified 14 measures targeting methane and BC emissions that reduce projected global mean warming ~0.5°C by 2050. This strategy avoids 0.7 to 4.7 million annual premature deaths from outdoor air pollution and increases annual crop yields by 30 to 135 million metric tons due to ozone reductions in 2030 and beyond. Benefits of methane emissions reductions are valued at $700 to $5000 per metric ton, which is well above typical marginal abatement costs (less than $250). The selected controls target different sources and influence climate on shorter time scales than those of carbon dioxide–reduction measures. Implementing both substantially reduces the risks of crossing the 2°C threshold.
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