Short-lived climate pollutants key to reducing emissions

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025, short-lived pollutants such as black carbon and methane are contributing 45% of recent global warming. Black carbon accelerates the melting of polar ice, while methane continues to be emitted through agriculture and waste disposal. The report calls on countries to work multilaterally to reduce such emissions, which could slow the rate of warming by up to 50 per cent.