From Emissions to Radiative Forcing: Rethinking Air Pollution Policies for Climate Accountability under SDG 13

¹ ICFAI Law School Hyderabad, ICFAI University, Hyderabad, Telangana - 501203, India
² School of Law, Woxsen University, Hyderabad, Telangana - 502345, India

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published online: 19 June 2026

Abstract

The policies on air pollution have traditionally been based on the mass concentration of PM2.5 as the key indicator of the regulation, and this model was intended to support the issue of human health, rather than climate effects. The residue from the burning i.e. black carbon, is one of the major causes of air pollution, the issue is that it isn't harmful in small quantities but when it builds up over time it starts absorbing the light and thus causing the issue of overheating by trapping the head. Hence, its small quantities goes unnoticed, its concerns are also not highlighted in the statues and conventions. Thus, the system is structurally unable to estimate the amount of danger it poses to the environment. Although the IPCC also acknowledged that black carbon as the second greatest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide, yet in major legal national or international regulatory systems, it has no reference or recognition.

This paper traces the scientific rationale behind considering black carbon as a separate regulatory target, conducts a current audit of the shortcomings of the current global and domestic regulations such as the Paris Agreement, the Gothenburg Protocol, and domestic air quality acts in EU, US, and India. Further analyzes the doctrinal and institutional reasons in the light of objectives under SDG 13, concerning mitigating the climate near term, equity, and accountability. The paper concludes with a series of suggestions to reform the international treaty development, national ambient standards, NDC integration, transboundary liability, and human rights law. These reforms do not necessitate a reconstruction of the current legal configurations but suggest certain changes that can reduce air pollution, by focusing attention on one of the major pollutants.