In recent years, scientists have included methane and soot, also known as black carbon, as being two short-term pollutants that drive climate change. Now, an international team of scientists report that inexpensive measures would cut emissions of the two common pollutants and slow global warming, save millions of lives and boost crop production around the world.

Dr. Drew Shindell led the study and says scientists believe that just 14 interventions — such as eliminating wood-burning stoves, dampening emissions from diesel vehicles and capturing methane released from coal mines — would offer big benefits. As a result, global warming would be slowed dramatically — by almost a degree Fahrenheit — by the middle of the century.

Computer generated simulations show that better air quality would prevent lung and cardiovascular diseases, saving anywhere from 700-thousand to 4.7-million lives annually. As for global crop yields, they would rise by 30 to 135 metric tons annually, as rice, corn, wheat and soybean plants would have an easier time absorbing the nutrients they need from the air.

Source: NAFB News Service