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The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is developing an integrated assessment of air pollution and climate change in Africa to identify and assess priority measures that reduce emissions while maximizing the benefits for health, ecosystems, climate, and food security. This scientifically led process is being coordinated by SEI in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP), Regional Office for Africa (ROA) and the African Union Commission (AUC).
Photo: Sergey Pesterev / Unsplash
The Africa Assessment of Air Pollution and Climate Change brings together academics, experts, and practitioners working across Africa. It seeks to address the growing air pollution and associated climate threats while promoting actions to reduce air pollution and climate change.
The analysis being undertaken is framed around ‘development pathways for Africa and their air quality and climate consequences’. It aims to determine how Africa can meet its development objectives and priorities as articulated in the African Union Commission’s (AUC’s) Agenda 2063 – the Africa We Want – while reducing emissions that drive climate change and air pollution. The assessment will provide information for policy and decision-makers regarding the benefits from improved air quality on health, agriculture, the environment and forestry; as well as the potential to limit climate change and the implications of climate adaptation in Africa.
The assessment is particularly significant to Africa where emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as black carbon and methane are very high. This is due to the widespread use of wood fuel for cooking (which leads to the emission of black carbon), and the open dumping of waste, which is a major source of methane.
Results from the assessment will provide a framework for national action and underpin regional co-operation to implement measures that reduce health impacts and crop damage from air pollution, slow near-term warming, and reduce long-lived greenhouse gases (GHGs).
The assessment will deliver a tailored package of solutions for climate and clean air for Africa that link meaningfully to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris agreement, as well as the Agenda 2063 for Africa.
Alongside this, the Africa Assessment also aims to increase regional capacity to tackle air pollution and climate change, by building a community of practice, integrating and enhancing existing science-policy-practice networks to support sustainable development in Africa.
Project / A scientifically robust and policy-relevant framework to identify and assess priority measures that maximize the multiple-benefits for air quality and climate.
Journal article / Novel co-created transdisciplinary research uses arts and humanities methods to explore air pollution in an informal settlement (Mukuru) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Perspective / This perspective highlights three major solutions to address the challenges faced by low-income and vulnerable transport users in African cities.
Feature / Find out what SEI is doing to protect #TheAirWeShare.
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