Variation in climate change as a result of reductions in short-lived climate pollutants

Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) are agents that have a short lifetime in the atmosphere, cause a warming effect on climate, and impact human health, agriculture, and ecosystems. SLCPs include black carbon (BC), methane (CH4), and tropospheric ozone (O3). BC is produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass, and it is the primary component of particulate matter. Sulfate and nitrate aerosols are the major anthropogenic particulate matters and they have a cooling effect on the climate. This study focused on several SLCPs, including BC, sulfate aerosols, and nitrate aerosols. This study included SLCPs that warm and cool the climate as well as compared changes in the near-future with respect to climate due to SLCPs emissions via various pathways. The focus of this study was climate change in Asia. To estimate the effects of SLCPs on climate, an earth system model MIROC-ESM was used. Multiple experiments using MIROC-ESM were performed for the years 2010–2049, considering various greenhouse gases and SLCPs emission pathways. Results reveals that SLCP emissions can be decreased by controlling air pollution. Moreover, improvements in energy efficiency to achieve a low-carbon outcome can also greatly reduce SLCPs, especially in rapidly developing countries of Asia. The atmospheric loading of anthropogenic aerosols decreased for all experiments. However, the experiments indicated that a combination of reduction in SLCPs and carbon dioxide decreases warming but a reduction in SLCPs alone promotes warming.