Alastair Lewis
University of York
- Conference: Air Quality Conference
- Presentation: Setting the Scene
- Presentation Time: Day1 13:40
Alastair Lewis is professor of atmospheric chemistry at the University of York and a Director at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science. He is an experimental scientist who has studied the composition of the atmosphere and the impacts of pollution from polar regions to megacities, open oceans to tropical forests. He is currently Chair of the UK government’s independent science advisory committee on air pollution.
Delivery of decarbonisation commitments in high-income economies are beginning to gather pace. The transition towards a low carbon or even net zero greenhouse gas emissions goal will have profound effects on air pollution, and public health more broadly. Many aspects of decarbonisation and net zero lead to beneficial reductions in primary air pollutant emissions, but the extent of the effects, and benefits arising, often depend critically on the exact technological and policy pathways chosen. Many of these are still on a state of flux. This talk will highlight some recent analyses on the potential future impacts of net zero policies on air pollution, highlighting examples of how co-benefits can be enhanced through careful design, and positive trade-offs avoided. How and when individual elements of net zero are delivered can also change how air pollution and its resultant harms are distributed, in some cases reducing inequalities in exposure, but in other cases possibly exacerbating them. Net zero does not offer however the complete solution to better air quality, and many emissions reduction challenges in areas such as agriculture, domestic emissions and industry will rely on the development of interventions outside of decarbonisation strategies.