The imperative for action on super pollutants
John Snow Lecture Theatre, LSHTM, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT
About this Event
Last year was confirmed as the first year in which global average temperatures exceeded 1.5 °C, and air pollution impact on human health was revised upwards, with 8 million people dying early from air pollution every year, making it the second largest risk factor for ill health.
Despite these worrying trends, 2025 represents a unique opportunity to begin to reverse them through action on super pollutants – methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), tropospheric ozone, and nitrous oxide – that drive both climate change and air pollution. These crises are deeply intertwined, and so are their solutions.
Analysis and scientific assessment conducted by the leading scientists and experts on super pollutants of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition show that super pollutants like methane and nitrous oxide contribute half of today’s climate change, but actions to reduce these pollutants are dramatically underrepresented in national climate plans. As Governments work to update their plans before COP30 in Brazil, increasing action on super pollutants is a key response to climate change that can boost climate change mitigation ambition and bring a range of health, economic, food security and development benefits.
By acting quickly to reduce super pollutants, countries can accelerate climate progress, prevent millions of premature deaths, and unlock far-reaching benefits in the near term. The science is clear, and the tools exist—what’s needed now is political will and implementation at scale.
Join us to hear from and discuss with leading scientists and policymakers from around the world why fast action on super pollutants is critical – and how we can get it done. Hosted by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), this event will dive into the latest science, tools, and strategies for slashing super pollutants and delivering immediate benefits for climate, clean air, and public health.
Stick around after the event for a networking lunch to continue the conversation.
This session will be part of a broader event taking place at LSHTM: ‘From global evidence to local action on climate and health’. Attendees are welcome to join for both sessions of the event (with an earlier session on ‘Health as the driver for sustainable cities’ starting at 9.30am), or join for this session only.
Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Climate and Clean Air Coalition
The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a partnership of over 200 governments, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations, co-chaired by the governments of the United Kingdom and Brazil. It works to reduce powerful super pollutants – methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), tropospheric ozone, and nitrous oxide – that drive both climate change and air pollution.
Pathfinder Initiative, LSHTM
The Pathfinder Initiative aims to accelerate a just transition to a healthy, net-zero future by providing evidence to inform policies and actions that bring benefits to both climate and health. The Pathfinder Initiative is led by LSHTM and funded by the Wellcome Trust. Partner organisations include C40 Cities, CDP, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the Hot or Cool Institute.
Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, LSHTM
The Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health conducts research to better understand the links between environmental change and human health, as well as identifying solutions for both mitigation of climate change and adaptation to its effects. Research areas include, but are not limited to, the delivery of sustainable and healthy food systems, sustainable and healthy cities, and understanding and controlling the shifting patterns of infectious disease.
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