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This chapter outlines some of the key features and applications of the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning system Integrated Benefits Calculator (LEAP-IBC), SEI’s model that can estimate the impacts of different policy scenarios on multiple pollutants, human health and other endpoints. It demonstrates how LEAP-IBC has been used in Bangladesh as part of a two-stage process to formulate action plans for shortlived climate pollutants (SLCPs). The chapter also shows that LEAP-IBC can be tailored to unique national circumstances — for example, a separate module was created to model contributions from rice parboiling units as they are considered important in Bangladesh.
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LEAP-IBC has been developed to allow countries to evaluate the present state of SLCP-relevant emissions at the national scale and to identify the major sectors producing those emissions. The tool also permits projections of these emissions into the future based on likely changes in activity in each sector, and allows countries to model the effect of implementing policies to reduce the emissions of all relevant substances associated with SLCP sources. Crucially, the tool allows countries to assess the multiple benefits of reducing emissions including climate benefits (avoided global temperature change), health benefits (avoided mortality) and agricultural benefits (avoided crop losses).
LEAP-IBC Interface screenshot
The Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development have generated a fast growing interest in strengthening the links between climate change and other development priorities in Asia. Due to this growing interest, policymakers are increasingly looking for tools and methods that can analyse linkages between climate change and development priorities. The main purpose of the Asian Co-benefits Partnership (ACP) White Paper 2018 is to broaden and deepen policymakers and practitioners understanding of tools that can quantify co-benefits.
Feature / Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) can have a big impact on climate change. SEI’s new LEAP-IBC tool shows that cutting emissions also has health benefits.
SEI brief / Factsheet describing the LEAP-IBC tool and its application for assessing impact of air quality, climate change and energy policy scenarios
