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An EU Initiative to Support International Policy to Reduce Black Carbon


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Curbing black carbon emissions in the Northern Dimension area
10.12.20
Link to Curbing black carbon emissions in the Northern Dimension areaEUA-BCA at webinar on black carbon and methane from the oil and gas sector
03.11.20
Link to EUA-BCA at webinar on black carbon and methane from the oil and gas sectorOnline workshop discusses a roadmap for black carbon action
26.06.20
Link to Online workshop discusses a roadmap for black carbon actionThe EU-funded Action on Black Carbon
The EU-funded Action on Black Carbon in the Arctic is an initiative sponsored by the European Union to contribute to the development of collective responses to reduce black carbon emissions in the Arctic and to reinforce international cooperation to protect the Arctic environment. It provides and communicates knowledge about sources and emissions of black carbon and supports relevant international policy processes.
- Supporting processes aimed at setting clear commitments and/or targets for reducing black carbon emissions from major BC sources (gas flaring, domestic heating, maritime shipping).
- Enhancing international cooperation on black carbon policy in the Arctic region – with a special focus on supporting the work of the Arctic Council and Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution and other national, regional and international initiatives, and building strong collaboration with EU strategic partners
AMAP Secretariat is responsible for managing project implementation, and working with the six implementing partners in the Action:
- Carbon Limits, Norway
- Environment Agency of Austria (EAA)
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
- Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU)
- Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL)

An EU Partnership Action
The EU-funded Action on Black Carbon in the Arctic is implemented through the EU Partnership Instrument providing 1.5 million EUR of funding during 2018-2020.

Domestic Heating
Wood stoves and the burning of coal to heat homes emit black carbon to the atmosphere and can be a health hazard.
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Gas Flaring
Flaring is used extensively in the oil and gas industry to burn unwanted flammable gases and a major source of black carbon emissions affecting Arctic regions.
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Maritime Shipping
Expected increases in shipping in the Arctic could lead to much higher emissions of black carbon in the Arctic than today.
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Diesel engines
Diesel engines used in heavy road vehicles, ships and machinery constitute a significant source of black carbon in the Arctic.
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Open Burning
Wildfires and agricultural fires may be underestimated sources of black carbon emissions that pollutes the Arctic
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Policy Action
The road towards reduced emission of black carbon include applying the best available technologies and practices
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Learn morePublications
Review of Observation Capacities and Data Availability for Black Carbon in the Arctic region
Review of observation capacities and data availability for Black Carbon in the Arctic region: EU Action on Black Carbon in the Arctic - Technical Report 1
Review of Reporting Systems for National Black Carbon Emissions Inventories
Review of Reporting Systems for National Black Carbon Emissions Inventories: EU-funded Action on Black Carbon in the Arctic - Technical Report 2
Best Available Techniques Economically Achievable to Address Black Carbon from Gas Flaring (available in English and Russian)
Best Available Techniques Economically Achievable to Address Black Carbon from Gas Flaring: EU-funded Action on Black Carbon in the Arctic – Technical Report 3