Short-Lived Climate Forcers

Background

Short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs) include greenhouse gases such as methane, particles such as black carbon, and other air pollutants that strongly influence the climate system but have a relatively short atmospheric lifetime compared to carbon dioxide. Some SLCFs are air pollutants that can negatively impact air quality with implications for human and ecosystem health. Reducing emissions of short lived climate forcers is important for protecting human and ecosystem health and will affect the rate of Arctic warming in the coming decades. 

Click on the button below for more background information on short-lived climate forcers in the Arctic.

See Background

AMAP'S LONG TERM PROGRAMME ON SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE FORCERS

AMAP has been working on SLCFs since 2008.

An initial report on the impacts of short-lived climate pollutants on Arctic climate identified SLCFs as an issue of Arctic climate concern and led to further work in 2011 focussing on on black carbon and sources and mitigation opportunities to reduce emissions of SLCFs. 

AMAP's first comprehensive assessments of black carbon and ozone and methane as Arctic climate forcers were delivered in 2015 and included a summary for policy makers. These reports prompted the Arctic Council to establish its 'Framework for Action on Black Carbon and Methane' and an Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane (EGBCM) to oversee this process (see box). 

The most recent AMAP information on SLCF's includes updated assessment reports and policy-communications detailing key findings and recommendations - see below.

AMAP's work on SLCFs is implemented through the AMAP SLCF Expert Group, which also supports the work of the Arctic Council's EGBCM. As part of its workplan for the current Arctic Council Chairship period, the AMAP SLCF EG conducts work as defined in an AMAP implementation plan for work on SLCFs in the Arctic 

AMAP's contribution to international initiatives on short-lived climate forcers
Focus on SLCFs in Arctic Council (AC) work, including establishment of EGBCM and setting of aspirational goal for BC emissions reductions by AC member states;

  • Identification of SLCFs as a priority by successive AC chairmanships, including in successive Chairship priorities
  • Uptake of SLCFs – especially black carbon - in the work of the UNFCCC/IPCC
  • Focus on black carbon in the EU’s Arctic Policy (also reflected in EU-funded projects coordinated by the AMAP Secretariat (EUA-BCA and ABC-iCAP)
  • Attention to SLCFs in work of UN ECE Air Convention (further development of Gothenburg Protocol, etc.)
  • Leverage of relevant work under CCAC, OECD, IMO, etc. 

Arctic Council’s Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane

Black carbon and methane emissions and their effects on the Arctic terrestrial and marine environment and human health has emerged as a cross-cutting theme across Arctic Council Working Groups. Arctic Council Ministers committed in 2015 to take “enhanced, ambitious, national and collective action to accelerate the decline in our overall black carbon emissions and to significantly reduce our overall methane emissions”. To help implement these commitments, the Framework for following up the commitments established an Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane (EGBCM). The Expert Group was tasked with developing a biennial “Summary of Progress and Recommendations” based on national reports and other relevant information, including policy-relevant science provided by the AMAP SLCF Expert Group.

Read more here (link to AC web site): https://arctic-council.org/about/task-expert/egbcm/)

AMAP WORKING GROUP LATEST ASSESSMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE FORCERS

AMAP has produced a series of assessments of short-lived climate forcers in the Arctic. Assessment products include comprehensive scientific assessment reports and policy-relevant recommendations presented in Summaries for Policy-makers (SPMs) and AMAP Policy Briefs (APBs). 

AMAP''s most recent assessment of SLCFs was prepared in 2021 and extended previous assessments to address climate impacts in a more integrated manner, also considering co-emitted air pollutants. It also considered impacts on air quality and human health. Products included a comprehensive fully-referenced and peer-reviewed assessment report and a related summary for policy makers., that included the following recommendations:

  • Current legislation [to reduce emissions of SLCFs] should be effectively implemented and the timely and effective implementation of best available technology beyond current legislation to reduce emissions of short-lived climate forcers further should be strongly supported
  • Arctic Council member and observer countries should sustain and enhance emissions reporting and monitoring to evaluate progress in reducing emissions of short lived climate forcers
  • Local Arctic emission sources of black carbon should be better identified and quantified in order to support implementation of effective measures to reduce local air pollution in Arctic communities
  • Effective strategies to limit agricultural burning and wildfires should be implemented in order to reduce fire emissions and related air pollution and climate warming 
  • The knowledge base for assessing health and climate impacts of emissions and mitigation efforts should be sustained and improved, in particular to enhance:
    • Monitoring
    • Research on impact of climate change to emissions of short lived climate forcers from natural sources
    • Health impacts
    • Modelling
    • Cost-benefit analysis

Following the release of the IPCC sixth assessment (AR6) report in 2021, and to address questions concerning the radiative forcing of black carbon, an AMAP Policy Brief on black carbon as a climate forcer was prepared in 2025. In addition to recommending that 'the IPCC AR7 report should be enhanced, particularly in chapters relevant for future projections of  regional climate and extremes, by ... the explicit consideration of Arctic climate changes driven by black carbon forcing', the report confirmed AMAPs 2021 assessment findings, reiterating that:.

  • Black carbon emissions make a significant contribution to global warming.
  • There are differences in how black carbon's contribution to global climate warming was estimated between 2015 and 2021.
  • Global policies to reduce emissions of black carbon are warranted.
  • There are clear co-benefits from addressing black carbon, particularly from improved air quality and reduced human health impacts.
  • Regional emissions of black carbon contribute to Arctic amplification - the faster rate of warming experienced by the Arctic region compared with the global average.

Work is currently ongoing to deliver (in 2026)  an AMAP Policy Brief updating information on methane as an Arctic climate forcer and the implications of the Global Methane Pledge.

An AMAP Policy Brief synthesising the latest knowledge on Arctic/boreal wildfires impacting the Arctic is planned for 2027.

CONTACTS

To get in touch with the responsible AMAP Secretariat members, message: Dr. Simon Wilson or Dr. Maria Malene Kvalevåg

To contact the main contacts of AMAP's SLCF Expert Group, please click on the button below.

CONTACT