23 January 2009: The UN Environment Programme has reported that a new study carried out by Indian and Swedish scientists shows that two-thirds of the soot particles contributing to the “Asian Brown Cloud,” which has a large effect on South Asia’s climate, are caused by biomass combustion. The results of the study, which are presented in the latest issue of Science, suggest that the remainder of the soot comes from fossil fuel combustion.

The authors underscore the results’ implications that poverty must be addressed to reduce the size and impact of the Asian Brown Cloud, and that reducing biomass combustion will provide climate benefits in the near-term – unlike reductions in fossil fuel combustion. [UNEP Press Release]