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The cascade of global trade to large climate forcing over the Tibetan Plateau glaciers

Author

Listed:
  • Kan Yi

    (Peking University)

  • Jing Meng

    (University of College London)

  • Haozhe Yang

    (Peking University)

  • Cenlin He

    (National Center for Atmospheric Research)

  • Daven K. Henze

    (University of Colorado at Boulder)

  • Junfeng Liu

    (Peking University)

  • Dabo Guan

    (University of East Anglia
    Tsinghua University)

  • Zhu Liu

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Lin Zhang

    (School of Physics, Peking University)

  • Xi Zhu

    (Peking University)

  • Yanli Cheng

    (Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences)

  • Shu Tao

    (Peking University)

Abstract

Black carbon (BC) aerosols constitute unique and important anthropogenic climate forcers that potentially accelerate the retreat of glaciers over the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau (HTP). Here we show that a large amount of BC emissions produced in India and China—a region of BC emissions to which the HTP is more vulnerable compared with other regions—are related to the consumption of goods and services in the USA and Europe through international trade. These processes lead to a virtual transport pathway of BC from distant regions to the HTP glaciers. From a consumption perspective, the contribution from India to the HTP glaciers shows a rapid increasing trend while the contributions from the USA, Europe, and China decreased over the last decade. International trade aggravates the BC pollution over the HTP glaciers and may cause significant climate change there. Global efforts toward reducing the cascading of BC emissions to Asia, especially the Indian subcontinent, are urgently needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Kan Yi & Jing Meng & Haozhe Yang & Cenlin He & Daven K. Henze & Junfeng Liu & Dabo Guan & Zhu Liu & Lin Zhang & Xi Zhu & Yanli Cheng & Shu Tao, 2019. "The cascade of global trade to large climate forcing over the Tibetan Plateau glaciers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-10876-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10876-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Huang, Rui & Lv, Guonian, 2021. "The climate economic effect of technology spillover," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).

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