This report shows how important it is to have a broad solution space to climate change, reductions in short lived greenhouse gasses can slow warming in critical snow and ice-covered regions and at the same time save the lives and health of millions of people. To date there has been to little focus on the linkages between short-lived climate pollutants and long-lived greenhouse gasses; this report points to the great potential for realizing co-benefits in response strategies, where immediate concerns can be addressed at the same time as long term sustainability issues are addressed.
“Facing a likely loss of summer sea ice by 2030, and disappearance of many land glaciers even earlier, efforts aimed at longer-lived greenhouse gases—while absolutely vital to the long-term preservation of these regions—will not be enough unless accompanied by reductions in more near-term forcers of the regional and global climate systems.”
Download the report from the World Bank webpages.