Integrating Nordic Air Quality And Climate Policies

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/nord2023-047/ The aim of the Nor-FORCeS project “Integrating Nordic air quality and climate policies using FORCEeS” was to investigate to what extent aerosol particles and greenhouse gases contribute to climate warming in the context of the Nordic emission picture. This knowledge is necessary to meet the Paris Agreement while simultaneously addressing harmful air pollution. The project has been executed by a Nordic research team from @Stockholm University, @Finnish MeteorologicaI Institute, @CICERO and @Aarhus University and supported by grants from the Nordic Council of Ministers’ working group for Climate and Air (NKL).

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2022-508/ A group of Nordic air quality researchers organised 10-11th of June 2020 a web-conference on Nordic air quality research for civil servants and the general audience. The name of the conference was Air Quality For All - A Nordic air quality conference (AQ4ALL), and it included an overview of research from three air quality research programmes with active Nordic participation. Presentations were made by researchers from the Swedish Clean Air and Climate (SCAC) research programme, the Nordic-WelfAir (NWA) research project, as well as the EU-funded project Action on Black Carbon in the Arctic (EUA-BCA). The following themes were discussed: • Air quality effects on the Nordic welfare system, • Nordic air pollution and the Arctic climate – effects and solutions, • Air pollution effects on public health and the environment This report gives an overview of the key messages from the projects.

Online publication: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2020-518/ Abstract [en] The Nordic Working Group for Climate and Air (NKL) organised 19-20 November 2019 a workshop with the objective to outline its future directions and priorities within the field of air pollution. The new Programme for Nordic co-operation on the Environment and Climate 2019-2024 formed the basis for the discussions at the workshop. A conclusion from the workshop is that Nordic collaboration still is important for the development of common air pollution strategies both for direct collaboration between the countries and for taking common initiatives within international fora such as the Air Convention and the EU. The workshop report includes a list of project ideas to be considered by NKL. Health effects and role of air pollution in fulfilling the SDGs were given priority.

Nordic Ministers of Environment adopted in March 2012 the "Svalbard Declaration" with decisions to reduce the negative impacts of the climate changes and air pollution caused by the emission of the so-called Short-lived Climate Forcers (SLCFs) such as black carbon (soot) and methane. Along with CO2, they are the main reasons why the ice in the Arctic now is melting rapidly. At a workshop organised by the Nordic Group on Climate and Air Quality in June 2012 researchers and policy-makers discussed the recent scientific findings, the national experiences with emission inventories, identification of cost-effective measures to cut emissions and the drawing up of national action plans as well as the development in the field of international co-operation on SLCFs. The report presents policy recommendations, conclusions and recommendations on scientific research and monitoring.

Urban sprawl has continued to spread in the Nordic countries over the past few decades, increasing the amount of transportation and transport-related greenhouse gas emissions. Urban planners need to take measures to reduce these ecological effects. Accessible, functional public transportation and high-quality cycling and walking networks will help reduce greenhouse gases, improve air quality and traffic safety, and create a more livable urban environment. We can further control the development of urban form and transportation systems through urban design, certain types of taxation, financing of urban infrastructure, traffic pricing, and parking policies. Planning alone cannot stop the urban sprawl. When considering and assessing different measures on a national level, we need to seriously consider legislative and fiscal issues, citizen participation, and other background forces. We need cooperation between researchers, politicians, civil servants, and citizens to better understand the economic, social, and environmental long-term effects of decisions concerning urban development, and we need a continuing discussion of urban-form problems in the Nordic countries to develop national solutions. This publication explores these issues.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2022-538/ Emissions of particle matter, heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) cause health issues to humans and other organisms. Air pollution is also linked to climate change and global warming. Reducing air pollution emissions is thus pivotal to the Nordic countries in many aspects. However, mitigation actions on greenhouse gas emissions may lead to increased air pollution emissions. Balanced political decisions to curb both greenhouse gas emissions and emissions of air pollution are thus essential to the Nordic countries. The foundation for making well-informed decisions on policies and measures are accurate and well-founded national emission inventories. This policy brief summarizes a Nordic collaboration to improve the knowledge base of the Nordics national emission inventories on heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants.