Climate patterns play a fundamental role in shaping natural ecosystems and the human economies and cultures that depend on them. However, climate change has become one of the biggest global challenges of the 21^st century. Although tackling it requires a global solution, every nation and region has a duty to cut pollution at its level in order for the world to make significant progress in reducing the effects of climate change.

Air pollution and climate change are closely related. The main sources of CO₂ emissions – the extraction and burning of fossil fuels – are not only drivers of climate change but also major sources of air pollutants. Furthermore, many air pollutants that are harmful to human health have significant impacts on climate. These so called Short-lived Climate Pollutants (SCLPs) include methane, black carbon, ground-level ozone and fluorinated gases. Air pollution is currently the world’s leading environmental risk to human health, accounting for up to 7 million premature deaths annually. 

Whereas some of the EANECE member countries have put in place relevant climate change and air quality policies and legal frameworks, others are yet to put in place such measures. In addition, even where the policies and laws exist, implementation, enforcement and compliance still remain a major challenge.  Working at this nexus of climate change and air quality, EANECE assists member countries and institutions to enhance policy and legislative actions as well as improved institutional capacities at national and regional levels in order to deliver multiple benefits from the mitigation of CO₂ and SCLPs.