New ACAP project on climate mitigation

Reduction of Black Carbon emissions from Residential wood combustion

Residential heating has been identified by the Arctic Council (technical report from TF SLCF, 2011) as a significant source of black carbon emissions in the Arctic. Generally, black carbon (BC) emission sources situated within the Arctic area have a greater impact per unit of BC emissions on climate change in the Arctic compared to emissions emitted on lower latitudes.

The ACAP - project on Reduction of Black Carbon Emissions from Residential Wood Combustion will collect and compile information on black carbon emissions from residential wood combustion in the Arctic along with information on existing and potential abatement measures. The data collection process will include information on wood combustion for heating purposes in Arctic indigenous communities.

Based on the information made available, the project will firstly aim to provide recommendations on cost-effective instruments and measures to further reduce black carbon emissions from residential wood combustion in the Arctic Countries. The first phase of the project will commence in 2012 and finish in 2014.

The second phase of the project may be extended to pilot projects designed to demonstrate selected measures to reduce black carbon emissions. The pilot projects will take place in one or more of the Arctic countries.

The project is co-lead by Norway and Finland. Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and USA will participate in the project and have nominated experts dedicated to provide national input to the project. Additional participants are welcome to join the project.

The ACAP Working Group finds the upcoming collaboration on Black Carbon information sharing valuable and promising for successful project outcomes.