Super Pollutant Action Alliance

The Challenge
Global climate action has long focused on reducing carbon dioxide, which is essential, but this approach addresses only part of the problem. Super pollutants such as methane, black carbon, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases, and tropospheric ozone are responsible for​​half of current warming and represent the fastest path to reducing near-term global temperature rise.

The failure to sufficiently address these super pollutants is both a missed opportunity and an escalating risk. While long-term decarbonization remains critical, overlooking these short-lived climate pollutants means ecosystems and communities will experience deeper near-term climate impacts, poorer health outcomes, and heightened vulnerability. The challenge is twofold. We must continue to cut carbon dioxide emissions while urgently scaling action on super pollutants, an area that remains under-funded, under-coordinated, and often overlooked in mainstream climate strategies.

What Can Be Done?
Meeting this challenge requires scaling and targeting funding toward super​ ​pollutant reduction strategies, especially in sectors and regions where action has lagged. It also requires strengthening the ecosystem of organizations, funders, researchers, and policymakers working on this issue so that efforts are coordinated, knowledge is shared, and messages are amplified to bring super pollutants into the center of climate action.

In addition, filling scientific, economic, health, and policy knowledge gaps will help validate and replicate effective strategies and support stronger advocacy. Together, these efforts can significantly reduce methane, black carbon, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases, and tropospheric ozone, cutting near-term warming and improving health and resilience for communities worldwide.

​​How the Super Pollutant Action Alliance Is Meeting the Challenge?
The Super Pollutant Action Alliance is accelerating global progress by focusing on four strategic priorities. ​​​

1. ​​​SPAA​ advance​s​ effective strategies in sectors, pollutants, and regions where action has been limited, building the capacity of existing organizations ​and​​     ​ creating new ones​, where necessary​.​​​
2. ​​SPAA​ convenes and supports philanthropic funders to coordinate investments, share learning, and integrate super-pollutant reduction with broader decarbonization efforts.​​​
3. ​​​Through targeted communications, partnerships, and events, ​SPAA​ raises awareness of the importance of addressing super pollutants and strengthens collaboration across the field. ​​​
4. ​​​Lastly, SPAA​​ builds the shared evidence base needed to drive action by supporting research that links super​ ​pollutant reduction to improved climate, health, and resilience outcomes.​

With a vision to double philanthropic funding for super​ ​pollutant action by 2028, the Super Pollutant Action Alliance is catalyzing a powerful global movement to cut fast-acting climate pollutants and protect the planet for current and future generations.