Short Lived Climate forcers (SLCF) are atmospheric components that besides long lived components as CO2 are affecting climate. They are also often anthropogenic air pollutants as sulphates, methane and soot (BC).

SLCFs have been shown to have a considerable influence on climate, however, with rather large uncertainty in the estimates of their influence. The Arctic Council working group the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program has repeatedly reviewed the status on the effects of SLCF in the Arctic concerning its effect on environment, climate and human health. In the last report, 2021, we showed through observations and multi model studies that the rate of climate change has almost doubled in the Arctic during the last 30 years due to SLCFs, mainly due to reduction of SO₂ emissions. Major health improvement due to air quality improvments are mainly found in industrialized areas in the Mid latitudes where the emissions are and that are causing the climate forcing warming the Arctic. This reveals that air quality improvements are counteracting climate warming mitigations. 

References:

AMAP report,  2021, Impacts of short-lived climate forcers on arctic climate air quality and human health, https://www.amap.no/documents/doc/amap-assessment-2021-impacts-of-short-lived-climate-forcers-on-arctic-climate-air-quality-and-human-health/

The Summary for Policy makers, https://www.amap.no/documents/doc/impacts-of-short-lived-climate-forcers-on-arctic-climate-air-quality-and-human-health.-summary-for-policy-makers/3512

Policy brief: Integrating Nordic air quality and climate policies, Nordic Council of Ministers, at Norden.org

Presenter: Hans-Christen Hansson, Professor emeritus, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University

Fika will be served at 11.00, seminar starts at 11.15.