Scripps Inst. of Oceanography

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Scripps Inst. of Oceanography University of
California at San Diego Oakland, California,
October 18, 2013
V. Ramanathan, University of California, San
Diego, February 04, 2014. Delhi Poliicy Conclave
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Air Pollution is a Major Killer
Lin et al, LANCET, 2013
Ambient particulate matter pollution accounted
for 31 million (27 million to 35 million)
premature deaths every year. Indoor pollution
(cooking/heating smoke) kills another 3.2 million
per yea
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Air pollution reduced 75-90 despite
growthReproduced from B. Croes, 2013 (CARB)
Carbon Monoxide
Nitrogen Dioxide
Vehicle Miles
Sulfur Dioxide
Number of Vehicles
Population
Ozone Los Angeles peak cut over 70, hours of
exposure reduced 90 PM10 annual-average levels
cut 75 Air toxics over 80 cancer risk
reduction (since 1989)
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The Air we breathe is getting better Statewide
BC Trends in California-Annual Mean(Remote Sites)
Source Bahadur et al, 2010
Ramanathan et al, 2013 CARB 08-323
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Co-Benefit of Diesel Black Carbon Reduction To
Climate Change Mitigation
Californias CO2 emission (2009 ) 393 MMT/Yr

• The reduction in diesel BC emissions from 1989
  to 2008, is equivalent to reducing CO2 emissions
  by 21 (to 50) million metric tons annually

However, simultaneous mitigation of CO2 emissions
from fossil fuels is essential to limit global
warming below 2oC.
Ramanathan et al, 2013 CARB 08-323
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ICAMP PROCESS

• INCEPTION NOTE
• Oakland Workshop
• III. Knowledge to Action Plan
• IV. Delhi Conclave

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SCIENCE PM Ozone (NOX) Trucks/Buses/Three
wheelers
Technology Soot Nox reduction Engines/Sulphur
content of fuel/Filters
POLICY
GOVERNANCE
EVALUATION OF PILOT CITIES
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Targeting air pollution emissions from the
transportation sector has huge benefits for human
health and food security. It also has a major
co-benefit of mitigating climate change
immediately since the warming pollutants in the
transport emissions (black carbon and ozone) have
very short life times (weeks to months)
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(No Transcript)
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MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS A SELECTED LIST
Drastic reduction (more than 90) of PM and
nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the transportation
sector, primarily diesel vehicles (on-road and
off-road) and buses, would have the largest and
most immediate beneficial impact on human health,
food and water supply, and regional to global
climate change. Technologies to improve engine
emissions and to distill ultra-low sulphur fuels
are available and can be implemented successfully
on a large scale. More importantly, California
has demonstrated that these pollutants can be
mitigated drastically without slowing down
economic development
There is a large potential to reduce diesel
particulate matter (PM) emissions by implementing
stricter vehicle emission and fuel quality
standards. Nation-wide switching to BS-IV
standards (50 ppm sulphur) by 2015 and to BS-V
standards (10 ppm sulfur) by 2017, would have a
perceptible impact on the air we breathe.
We strongly endorse Indias National Urban
Transport Policy approach of Avoid (transport
use), Shift (from high to lower-emission forms of
transport), and Improve (transport technology to
reduce emissions).
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State governments in India have enormous
potential as the locus for comprehensive,
integrated air quality management, while building
state leadership will require national funding to
both motivate and enable action. A
coordinated (between academia and government)
observational and modeling effort is required to
develop Science Based Policy directives and to
monitor the effectiveness of mitigation actions
in improving ambient air quality and human
health.