Climate and Energy

The more quickly we reduce all of the pollutants driving climate change—carbon dioxide and climate “super pollutants” like black carbon, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons—the more likely it is we’ll have the safe, stable climate our communities need to stay healthy and vibrant.

Bolstering critical carbon dioxide cuts with reductions of black carbon, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons is a critical step toward achieving a safe, stable climate. Cutting these climate pollutants will also deliver improved air quality, better public health, including in vulnerable communities, and greater food security.

How We Do It

Readily available solutions exist to quickly reduce climate super pollutants today. Our strategies include supporting:

Phasing Down Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

We support global efforts to cut emissions of HFCsLooking for more information? You can dive deeper with these resources:

— Well Under 2 Degrees Celsius, a report on reducing short-lived climate pollutants

— Fumes Across the Fence Line, the health impacts of oil and gas pollution

— An index of science publications on methane, black carbon, HFCs, and other climate pollutants

Want to go further? These organizations offer a wide range of information on SLCPs:

— Clean Air Task Force

— Climate & Clean Air Coalition

— Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development

— International Council on Clean Transportation1, one of the fastest growing climate pollutants. Governments, civil society, and industry worldwide are partnering to curb the use of this potent pollutant effectively, quickly, and in ways that promote energy efficiency.

Cutting Black Carbon

Diesel trucks are a primary emitter of black carbonLooking for more information? You can dive deeper with these resources:

— Well Under 2 Degrees Celsius, a report on reducing short-lived climate pollutants

— Fumes Across the Fence Line, the health impacts of oil and gas pollution

— An index of science publications on methane, black carbon, HFCs, and other climate pollutants

Want to go further? These organizations offer a wide range of information on SLCPs:

— Clean Air Task Force

— Climate & Clean Air Coalition

— Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development

— International Council on Clean Transportation1. By cleaning up fuel and putting filters on trucks and buses, we can reduce black carbon and other air pollutants, cooling the planet and helping save millions of lives. That is why we support cleaner vehicle emissions standards. We also support research and the development of solutions to curb black carbon in the marine shipping sector, another critical source of this pollutant.

Curbing Methane Emissions

Pound for pound, over several decades methane is nearly 100 times more potent in warming the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. It also contributes to smog, creating health problems globally. We fund efforts to reduce methane emissions in the oil, gas, waste, and wastewater sectors by improving industry practices, policy, and regulations with solutions that exist nowLooking for more information? You can dive deeper with these resources:

— Well Under 2 Degrees Celsius, a report on reducing short-lived climate pollutants

— Fumes Across the Fence Line, the health impacts of oil and gas pollution

— An index of science publications on methane, black carbon, HFCs, and other climate pollutants

Want to go further? These organizations offer a wide range of information on SLCPs:

— Clean Air Task Force

— Climate & Clean Air Coalition

— Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development

— International Council on Clean Transportation1.

Raising Awareness About Climate Super Pollutants

We support research, collaboration, and outreach that increases awareness of the accelerated effect that reducing emission of short-lived climate pollutants can have on cooling our climate and improving public health. We seek to broaden the number and type of organizations working to reduce black carbon, methane, HFCs, and other climate pollutants.

Looking for more information? You can dive deeper with these resources:

— Well Under 2 Degrees Celsius, a report on reducing short-lived climate pollutants

— Fumes Across the Fence Line, the health impacts of oil and gas pollution

— An index of science publications on methane, black carbon, HFCs, and other climate pollutants

Want to go further? These organizations offer a wide range of information on SLCPs:

— Clean Air Task Force

— Climate & Clean Air Coalition

— Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development

— International Council on Clean Transportation

Rapidly reducing climate super pollutants will cool our planet, strengthen communities and economies, and improve our well-being.

Grantee Spotlight

Clean Air Task Force

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is working to cut global oil and gas methane emissions 45% below 2012 levels by 2025—and to virtually eliminate these emissions by 2040. Currently, the global oil and gas industry releases millions of tons of methane and toxic pollution into the air. The climate impact from this pollution is comparable to 1,600 coal-fired power plants and causes serious health problems.

  • In 2014, CATF launched efforts to secure strong U.S. federal regulations and now works to defend these regulations and advance progress at the state level.
  • CATF applies lessons learned in the U.S. to help Canada and Mexico realize their commitments to reduce methane.
  • Canada recently finalized comprehensive standards for methane, and in July, Mexico published proposed standards.

CATF is gearing up to replicate these victories and drive rapid, global action on methane.