Canadian Arctic Community-Based Black Carbon & PM2.5 Monitoring Pilot Project

BACKGROUND

Black carbon is a short-lived climate forcer and an air pollutant emitted by incomplete combustion. Because it contributes to warming, it is also referred to as a short-lived climate pollutant . Its climate warming impact is particularly strong when deposited on snow or ice, and therefore it has a disproportionate warming impact when emitted in or near the Arctic. As noted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, sharp and immediate reductions of black carbon alongside greenhouse gases will be critical to limiting near-term warming to 1.5°C. Action on black carbon (which also mitigates primary PM_2.5) also helps improve air quality and reduce the significant health impacts of emissions. Black carbon is a component of PM_2.5, an air pollutant with significant health impacts. Overall, air pollution from North American sources is responsible for the premature death of 15,300 Canadians per year, as well as 2.7 million asthma symptom days, 35 million acute respiratory symptom days, and a total economic cost of ~$120 billion /year.

Air pollution monitoring in the Canadian Arctic is limited, and most communities have no means of measuring local air quality. Additionally, there are only a limited number of studies of the impact of air pollution on people living in the Arctic. Those that do exist (mostly in Alaska) show that exposure to PM_2.5 is an important health concern. The Arctic Council Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) 2021 assessment of short-lived climate forcers (Summary for Policy-Makers) makes a series of recommendations for priority action on SLCFs, including the following: “Local Arctic emissions sources of black carbon should be better identified and quantified in order to support implementation of effective measures to reduce local air pollution in Arctic Communities”. This project helps to address this priority recommendation.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The objective of the project is to identify local sources of PM_2.5 and black carbon pollution in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, assess whether ambient concentrations are indicative of possible public health impacts, and develop options for preventing and mitigating contamination to protect public health.

PROJECT PARTNERS/ PARTICIPANTS

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Polar Knowledge Canada and the community of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut are the stakeholders of this project.

The project received funding from the Global Affairs Canada and its implementation started in early 2024. The pilot community is Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, where 80% of the population are Inuit and over 95% are Indigenous. The project lead, Polar Knowledge Canada, carries out work on the ground with the support of the Environment and Climate Change Canada.

KEY ACTIVITIES

1. Establish a partnership with Cambridge Bay
   1. Engagement with the community
   2. Initial community consultation and deployment of PM2.5 sensors
   3. Create collaborative action plan with set roles and responsibilities
   4. Map likely local sources of black carbon and PM2.5 within the community
   5. Co-developed monitoring plan for implementation and sensor deployment

Project milestone 1: Map of potential black carbon and PM2.5 sources within the community

2. Monitoring and Data Analysis
   1. Procure black carbon sensors
   2. Deployment of black carbon sensors
   3. Collect spatial and temporal data on PM2.5 and BC

Project milestone 2: Network of sensors established and collecting data

3. Developing mitigation options and Communication of results
   1. Continue collection of spatial and temporal data on PM2.5 and BC
   2. Data analysis
   3. Community discussion on mitigation options
   4. Written report
   5. Discussion of possible next steps

Project milestone 3: Community Workshop (January 2027)

Project milestone 4: Final report, including workshop outcomes and possible mitigation options.