Exploring effective short-lived climate pollutant mitigation scenarios by considering synergies and trade-offs of combinations of air pollutant measures and low carbon measures towards the level of the 2 °C target in Asia.

This study analyzes emissions pathways and mitigation potentials of greenhouse gases (GHGs), air-pollution and short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), while taking mitigation actions for achieving a 2 °C global temperature change limit above pre-industrial levels, so-called "2 °C target." The study evaluates SLCPs (i.e. BC, CH 4 , tropospheric O 3) mitigation scenarios by considering synergies and tradeoffs of various combinations of low-carbon measures and air pollutants control measures. It was found that, even if CO 2 emissions pathways in this study are all similar to achieve the 2 °C target, reaching a carbon price at around 400 US$/tCO 2 eq. in 2050, SLCPs and air pollutants emissions pathways and mitigation potentials are largely influenced by combinations of some key mitigation measures. The maximum mitigation potential reductions of SLCPs (BC, CH 4) and air pollutants (NOx, CO, NMVOC, which are precursors of tropospheric O 3) in Asia are 89%, 22%, 67%, 37%, and 11% respectively by 2050 compared to the 2010 levels. After considering both direct SLCP reduction effects (i.e. mitigating BC, CH 4) and indirect SLCP reduction effects (i.e. mitigating NOx, CO, NMVOC for reducing tropospheric O 3 generation and atmospheric CH 4 concentration), it can be adjudged that combinations of widespread promotion of renewable energies, drastic electrification in transport, residential and commercial sectors, high biofuel shares in the transport sector, and a certain level of deployment of removal devices would be effective SLCP mitigation scenarios. Image 1 ● Combinations of low-carbon and air pollutants measures have synergies or trade-offs. ● Air pollutant emissions vary widely in 2 °C scenarios due to combinations of measures. ● Large cobenefit of reducing air pollutants and SLCPs through low-carbon measures. ● Renewables, electrification, removals are effective measures for SLCPs mitigations. ● Large mitigation potentials of air pollutants and SLCPs in Asia. A capsule of no more than two lines that summarizes the main finding. Combinations of low-carbon and air pollutants measures have synergies or trade-offs on SLCPs and air pollutants emissions, though all the CO 2 emissions are similar to achieve the 2 °C target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]