Mitigating the impacts of air pollutants in Nepal and climate co-benefits: a scenario-based approach

Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) including black carbon (BC), methane (CH4), and tropospheric ozone (O3) are major climate forcers after carbon dioxide (CO2). These SLCPs also have detrimental impacts on human health and agriculture. Studies show that the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, which includes Nepal, has been experiencing the impacts of these pollutants in addition to greenhouse gases. In this study, we derive a national-level emission inventory for SLCPs, CO2, and air pollutants for Nepal and project their impacts under reference (REF) and mitigation policy (POL) scenarios. The impacts on human health, agriculture, and climate were then estimated by applying the following: (1) adjoint coefficients from the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS)-chemical transport model that quantify the sensitivity of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and surface O3 concentrations in Nepal, and radiative forcing in four latitudinal bands, to emissions in 2 × 2.5° grids, and (2) concentration–response functions to estimate health and crop loss impacts in Nepal. With the mitigating measures undertaken, emission reductions of about 78% each of BC and CH4 and 87% of PM2.5 could be achieved in 2050 compared with the REF scenario. This would lead to an estimated avoidance of 29,000 lives lost and 1.7 million tonnes of crop loss while bringing an economic benefit in present value of 2.7 times more than the total cost incurred in its implementation during the whole period 2010–2050. The results provide useful policy insights and pathways for evidence-based decision-making in the design and effective implementation of SLCP mitigation measures in Nepal

Investigation of carbon dynamics in soil plant systems using in situ CO2 measurements

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The Global Atmospheric Pollution Forum Air Pollutant Emission Inventory Manual. Version 6.0 May 2019 revision

As air pollutant emissions management has increasingly to be conducted at wider geographical scales (including regional and hemispheric), the development and adoption of compatible approaches by different regional networks, is increasingly necessary. In particular, convergence of approaches for compiling emission inventories will enable the efficient transfer of information and expertise to assist the efforts of those regions with less experience. This Manual has been produced under the auspices of the Global Atmospheric Pollution Forum (the Forum) which is coordinated by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), based at the University of York, U.K. and The International Union of Air Pollution Prevention Associations (IUAPPA). The purpose of the Forum Manual is to provide a simplified and user-friendly framework for emissions inventory preparation that is suitable for use in different developing and rapidly industrialising countries and which is compatible with other major international emissions inventory initiatives. However, the methodologies suggested in the Manual and Workbook are indicative only and the actual level of detail used for different parts of the inventory will vary according to data availability and capacity of the country concerned. In some cases, the level of detail possible will surpass that provided for in the Forum Manual/Workbook and users are then free to use alternative methods or tools so long as these are properly documented. Inventory methods are provided for estimating emissions from the following sources: fuel combustion and transformation; fugitive emissions from fuels; industrial process emissions (non-combustion); emissions from solvent and other product use; emissions from agriculture (including savanna fires); emissions from other vegetation fires and forestry; and emissions from the treatment and disposal of wastes. The air pollutants covered are sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC)) and carbon dioxide (CO2). An Excel workbook (FORUM Workbook Version 7.5.0) has been prepared as a companion to this Manual for use as an aid and tool in preparing national emissions inventories. Use of the Forum Manual and its companion Workbook will, it is hoped, enable non-OECD countries to develop emissions inventories in an accurate, complete, comparable, consistent and transparent manner to support the process of regional cooperation on the modelling and mitigation of transboundary air pollution