It’s not just CO2 vehicle emissions that should be targeted in the effort to mitigate long term climate change – its also non-CO2 pollutants.
A new analysis conducted by a team of scientists, led by Drew Shindell of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, used global composition climate modelling to examine the impact of adopting stringent European on-road vehicle emissions standards for non-CO2 pollutants in 2015 in developing countries. It found that the tight standards would avoid 120,000-280,000 air pollution related deaths; 6.1-19.7 million metric tons of ozone-related yield losses of food crops; and mitigation of 0.20 degrees Celsius of warming from 2040-2070.
The team used a comprehensive computer model and climate simulator that shows vehicle exhaust exacts an enormous toll in all countries, and particularly in the developing world.
They compared a baseline scenario with existing emission standards remaining unchanged, with a second scenario with most countries adopting stringent standards. The aggressive scenario finds that if China, India and Brazil adopt Euro 6 standards in 2015, particulate matter would be reduced by about 85 per cent; with nitrogen oxides falling by 65 per cent; and carbon monoxide by about 70 per cent.
In addition, the scenario looked at major emission reductions in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, while North American rules are slightly more stringent than European standards already so its baseline and aggressive scenarios were identical.
Reductions in particulate matter produce local health benefits as well as agricultural benefits.
It is well established that the carbon dioxide released by vehicles contributes to global warming, but it also appears that other emissions too have a significant effect. Some of these aerosols reflect sunlight and produce a cooling effect while others absorb light and warm the atmosphere.
