Project

Integrated assessments of short-lived climate pollutants

The project conducts new scientific assessments to explore the potential co-benefits for human health, crop yields and climate change of mitigating short-lived climate pollutants. These assessments, coordinated by SEI based at the University of York, aim to address air quality and climate change in an integrated manner. The current global assessments are on the Economic Costs of Air Pollution and Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Systems and Nitrous Oxide abatement.

Photo : Fahroni / Getty Images

Active project

2024–2026

Project contact

Kevin Hicks / kevin.hicks@sei.org

This project evaluates the impact of a range of internationally available mitigation measures on Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) emissions, and key co-pollutants, including carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia and nitrogen oxide. This assessment will provide mitigation recommendations to reduce climate change and protect the stratospheric ozone layer, as well as other associated air quality, and nitrogen pollution development benefits.

The last UNEP global report addressing N₂O was released in 2013. There is a growing concern that this gas is being overlooked in the development of climate and ODS policies, creating a gap that needs to be addressed. To address this issue and raise awareness about the significance of tackling N₂O emissions, it is necessary to develop a comprehensive status report on N₂O. This report will serve as a tool to underscore the importance of addressing N₂O emissions and mobilize action.

The assessment will build on emissions scenarios from the International Nitrogen Assessment (INA). It will be developed as a collaborative special report with the INA, FAO, UNEP, CCAC and Montreal Protocol Secretariat. SEI at the University of York is assisting the CCAC in coordinating the assessment. The results will be published in a Synthesis Report for decision-making at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024.

SEI is coordinating the Climate and Clean Air Coalition’s (CCAC) Agriculture and Food Systems Assessment. It is the first CCAC Assessment that focuses on a specific sector. It does this because of the large contribution that agriculture and food production make to Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) emissions, e.g. globally 40% of anthropogenic methane emissions come from the agriculture, and ~700,000 premature deaths per year have been estimated to result from exposure to agricultural air pollution. The aim of the Assessment is to:

Identify and assess priority SLCP-focused policies, actions and measures in agriculture and food systems, for use in the development of a roadmap for implementation by 2050, that is consistent with the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) target and 1.5°C climate scenarios and maximises development synergies and minimises trade-offs.

SEI, CCAC and partners, including the FAO and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), are working to develop the Agriculture and Food Systems Assessment, and once completed, it will provide new evidence to meet the needs of decision-makers to promote sustainable food production and consumption.

Policymakers require detailed assessments of the benefits and costs of reducing short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs)in conjunction with GHGs and their effects on the global economy. This assessment aims to provide new insights into the multiple benefits of tackling climate change, air pollution, and their economic interaction.

The main goals of the assessment are to:

Evaluate the combined economic impacts of air quality and climate change.
Describe and measure the economic consequences of delaying or not taking significant action to reduce SLCPs, GHGs and other air pollutants compared to taking early, ambitious actions.
Compare the costs of taking action to reduce SLCPs and GHGs with the costs of not taking action.
Estimate how these costs could affect global economic growth.
Assess how feasible it is to implement different measures and what reforms are needed to support these measures and overcome barriers
Determine how reducing SLCPs can help meet climate and clean air targets and prevent exceeding temperature limits.

Kevin Hicks

Professor

SEI York

Chris Malley

Senior Research Fellow

SEI York

Johan C. I. Kuylenstierna

Professor

SEI York

Jennifer Aghaji

Communications Specialist

Communications

SEI York

Katy Brooke

Project Coordinator

SEI York

A tractor spreading fertilizer on a green wheat field under a partly cloudy sky. The machine has a green fertilizer spreader attached at the back, and white particles can be seen dispersing across the field.

Report warns nitrous oxide emissions endanger climate goals

Feature / The UN Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment, co-authored by SEI’s Kevin Hicks, urges bold action to cut N₂O emissions.

13 November 2024 / About Short lived climate pollutants

Air pollution climate interactions – impact on crop productivity

Other publication / An FAO white paper finds that climate extremes drive agrifood crises, highlighting sustainable agrifood investments as key to climate adaptation.

10 November 2025 / About Food and agriculture

Global nitrous oxide assessment

Other publication / The 2024 Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment identifies opportunities to reduce nitrous oxide emissions by over 40%, focusing on the food systems sector.

13 November 2024 / About Cities and Food and agriculture

Topics and subtopics: Climate : Short-lived climate pollutants / Air : Cities, Pollution, Transport
Tags: air pollution
Related centres: SEI York
Regions: Africa, Europe, Asia, Americas, Australia and Oceania

Integrated assessments of short-lived climate pollutants

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