NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday launched a black carbon research initiative to study the phenomenon of soot, its sources and impact on health and environment. Black carbon is among those non-greenhouse gas emissions that is fast becoming the focus of climate change science.
Commonly known as soot, black carbon is a form of respiratory suspended particulate matter that is produced from incomplete combustion through biomass burning, cooking with solid fuels and diesel exhaust. While India and China are credited for 25-35% of global black carbon emissions, there is not much scientific information on the actual reasons or sources behind its production.
"We need to be pro-active in our approach. This is an important step forward, not just for India but for the international community. India is well aware of the importance of the issue (of climate change), and is committed to addressing it, based on sound scientific assessments," said environment minister Jairam Ramesh.
The black carbon research initiative will be undertaken under the aegis of Indian network of climate change
assessment. The Rs 200-crore project will be a five-year research programme, and will be a joint effort among the ministries of environment, earth sciences, science and technology and Isro. The report is meant to build on the existing aerosol study, and will involve nearly 101 institutions in research activities.
"This is one of the most ambitious programmes in the world on aerosol research and black carbon. It is a culmination of over 25 years research from pioneering Indian scientists. India has positioned itself to be second to none in this area of research," said V Ramanathan, a leading scientist.
