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The Carbon Dioxide-Equivalent Benefits of Reducing Black Carbon Emissions from U.S. Class 8 Trucks

September 14, 2009
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One strategy that has yet to be fully explored is the reduction of black carbon particles. Diesel engines represent a significant, controllable source of black carbon. Targeting these emissions offers a supplemental and parallel strategy to pursue carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions with the advantage of a much faster temperature response and the additional benefit of health risk reductions. As part of an integrated multi-prong strategy, reducing black carbon can provide net cooling benefits in the near term while carbon dioxide reduction strategies and technologies are developed and implemented.