Cutting smog and pollution could save glaciers

Covered glacier in Swiss Alps.

Most of what I’ve been hearing recently doesn’t make me optimistic that we can really limit global warming to 2 degrees. So I was all the more interested to read a press release distributed today at the climate talks in Bonn.A UNEP/WMO study says while reducing CO2 emissions continue to be a key factor, there are other measures which might help us keep below 2 degrees and benefit human health at the same time. Pollution from “soot” and “smog” contribute to climate change because black material absorbs heat whereas white material reflects it back up into the atmophere. The report suggest fast action to reduce black carbon and also ground level ozone and methane could increase the chance of limiting global temperature rise to 2 degrees or even 1.5.
The Arctic is mentioned specifically, as are mountain glaciers. A covering of black carbon accelerates the melting, so measures to curb that kind of pollution could help keep them cool.More info on the UNEP website.