Clean Air Fund launches $10M initiative to cut black carbon emissions for climate and health

The Clean Air Fund, backed by Wellcome, has launched a $10 million program aimed at reducing black carbon emissions, also known as soot. Black carbon is a short-lived climate pollutant that contributes to global warming and accelerates ice melt, while also causing serious health issues like heart and lung disease. The initiative will fund research, policy development, and advocacy to cut emissions by up to 70% by 2030 using existing technologies. The program focuses on communities most affected by air pollution, aiming to provide evidence for faster action. Unlike CO2, black carbon stays in the atmosphere for a short time, so reducing it can deliver rapid climate and health benefits. The Clean Air Fund says significant cuts are technically achievable within a decade, targeting sources like incomplete burning of fossil fuels and biomass.