Arctic Council at COP24: Curbing black carbon emissions for health and Arctic climate benefits

On 10 December 2018, the Arctic Council together with Finland hosted an official side event on black carbon at the UNFCCC COP24 in Katowice, Poland. Reducing emissions of black carbon can help to mitigate climate change globally, but particularly in the Arctic. It also brings considerable health benefits. This side event will present current knowledge on black carbon, and its climate and health impacts, as well as initiatives to reduce emissions by the Arctic Council and other stakeholders.

Date: Monday 10 December 2018
Time: 18:30 – 20:00 (CET)
Location: “Area G” at COP24, room "Wisla"

Program for the event (updated 16 November 2018)

Opening Remarks:

Kimmo Tiilikainen, Minister of the Environment, Finland
Henryk Kowalczyk, Minister of the Environment of Poland

List of panelists, in order of presentation:

Kaarle Kupiainen, Senior Specialist, Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) and the Ministry of the Environment, Finland
Presentation: Black carbon in the Arctic and mitigation options – emissions and policies

Raimo O. Salonen, Chief Medical Officer, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland
Presentation: Black carbon associated adverse health effects

Rodolfo Lacy, Director, Environment Directorate of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Presentation: Air pollution and economic impacts

John Bennett, Aleut International Association
Presentation: Black carbon and indigenous communities, a case study from Alaska

Helena Molin Valdès, Head of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Secretariat
Presentation: The black carbon activities of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition

Michael Stanley, Global Lead Gas & Mining, The World Bank
Presentation: The “Zero Routine Flaring by 2030” Initiative

Moderator: Professor Mikael Hildén, Chair of the Arctic Council Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane