The good news is that the technology to radically reduce black carbon emissions is widely available and cost effective. Emissions can be reduced be using two different techniques.
The first technique is to use cleaner fuels. Solid fuels can be replaced with cleaner burning fuels such as natural gas. Diesel engines can be replaced with engines fuelled by petrol or natural gas.
The second is to use filters to remove the black carbon particles (and other harmful particles) from exhaust gases. Filters for diesel exhausts are widely available and can be fitted to most types of vehicles and other equipment – they are known as diesel particulate filters. Filters are also available to remove black carbon from wood and coal burning appliances, although they are more cost effective for larger appliances than smaller ones.
