Black carbon is a pollutant, too

According to additions to the Gothenburg Protocol, black carbon is probably going to be classed as a "transboundary pollutant".


Fine Particles, Black Carbon May Be Added To Controlled Pollutants Under Air Convention

The treaty's Secretariat considers the addition of black carbon, or soot, to be breaking new ground in air pollution policy. “For the first time, we have an international agreement that acknowledges the link between air pollution and climat e change,” European Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potocnik said in a May 7 statement.

“By agreeing to regulate one of the contributors to climate chang e, 'Black Carbon,’ we will see positive impacts at both local and international levels.”

Black carbon is composed of fine particles produced from the incomplete combustion of diese l fuel, wood, crop waste and other biomass, oil, refuse, and in some cases coal. Evidence indicates that black carbon contributes to climat e change by warming the atmosphere and by darkening the surface of snow and ice, speeding melting.

 However, parties did not commit to specific reductions of black carbon.

Which is typical.