The Himalaya region is among the most vulnerable to climate change. Climate change in the Himalaya is partly a result of carbon dioxide, which can remain in the atmosphere and impact the climate for centuries. However, it is also caused by ‘short lived climate pollutants’ (SLCPs) that stay in the atmosphere briefly, but still impact on the climate.

In recent decades the Himalayan region has experienced increasing urban and rural air pollution, affecting people’s health, agriculture, visibility and tourism. Many of the biggest sources of SLCPs can be addressed using well-established measures that are cost-effective to implement.

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) was set up three years ago to reduce these pollutants, it now has 100 members and is focused on finding practical solutions to reduce four key short-lived climate pollutants: black carbon, tropospheric ozone, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

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Photo credit: cooking stove/SLOW LIFE Foundation.