Integrated Assessment of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants in Latin America and the Caribbean: Summary for Decision Makers

Summary for Decision Makers from the first regional assessment of short-lived climate pollutants in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. Through this assessment, policy makers and implementers will be able to better quantify and understand the relevant emissions in the region; identify which measures are most important for delivering near-term climate and air pollution benefits; and estimate the reductions in regional air pollutants that could be achieved by implementing these measures, with associated health and crop-yield benefits for the LAC region.

Key messages include:

1. Poor air quality and global warming have already affected vulnerable populations and ecosystems in LAC, resulting in premature deaths, crop yield losses and damage to ecosystems.
2. Agriculture, mobile and commercial refrigeration, and transport are the sectors that produce the largest emissions of CH4, HFCs and BC.
3. Without any action to reduce SLCP missions, the influence of LAC emissions on climate, human health and agriculture will increase significantly by 2050.
4. A number of SLCP measures have been identified that, by 2050, have the potential to reduce warming in LAC by up to 0.9o C, premature mortality from PM2.5 by at least
5. 26 per cent annually, and avoid the loss of 3–4 million tonnes of four staple crops each year.
6. Efforts and experience on reducing some SLCPs are already in place across LAC and could be scaled up if identified barriers were overcome.

To read the report, please see here.