Buying Time: Controlling Black Carbon and Methane Emissions in the Arctic

The Arctic is warming at almost twice the global average rate, a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification. While long-term climate stability requires reducing carbon dioxide, the author argues that targeting short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) like black carbon (BC) and methane can provide immediate mitigation benefits. The paper specifically focuses on the shipping and oil and gas sectors, which are expected to grow as sea ice retreats. It recommends a ban on heavy fuel oil (HFO) for shipping to reduce BC and marine risks, and the creation of a best-practices dialogue via the Arctic Economic Council to limit methane releases and flaring in oil production. The author emphasizes that coordinated infrastructure planning is essential to make these cleaner practices viable in the harsh Arctic environment.

• Arctic amplification has caused mean surface temperatures over Arctic land areas to increase by more than two degrees Celsius since the mid-1960s, which is nearly double the global average rate of change.
• Black carbon (BC) is particularly damaging in the Arctic because its particles absorb heat and darken snow and ice, which reduces the surface albedo and accelerates melting; BC emitted at high latitudes can cause a fivefold increase in surface temperature response compared to the same amount emitted at midlatitudes.
• Gas flaring in oil and gas fields could account for two-thirds of Arctic black carbon emissions and typically results in methane emissions due to incomplete combustion.
• A transition from residual fuels to distillate fuels in shipping can reduce black carbon emissions by up to 80%, whereas scrubbers only provide a 40-70% reduction.
• The author recommends that Arctic Council Member States urge the International Maritime Organization to ban the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in Arctic waters to reduce both BC emissions and the risk of severe marine spills.
• To address methane and flaring, the author proposes that the Arctic Economic Council (AEC) co-host a dialogue to develop voluntary best-practices guidelines for oil and gas development, potentially in partnership with the World Bank.

APA

Strickler, L. (2015). Buying Time: Controlling Black Carbon and Methane Emissions in the Arctic. Clean Air Task Force. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/21094420/CATF_WhitePaper_BuyingTime.pdf

Chicago

Strickler, Laura. Buying Time: Controlling Black Carbon and Methane Emissions in the Arctic. Clean Air Task Force, 2015. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/21094420/CATF_WhitePaper_BuyingTime.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Strickler |first1=Laura |title=Buying Time: Controlling Black Carbon and Methane Emissions in the Arctic |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=31 August 2015 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/21094420/CATF_WhitePaper_BuyingTime.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{strickler2015buying, author = {Strickler, Laura}, title = {{Buying Time: Controlling Black Carbon and Methane Emissions in the Arctic}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2015}, month = aug, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/21094420/CATF_WhitePaper_BuyingTime.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }