On 12 May 2026, UNU will host “Turning the Tide, Restoring Balance: Practical Action on Super Climate Pollutants”, a conversation with Romina Picolotti, Senior Climate Policy Advisor at the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development. This event will begin at 18:30 in the 2F Reception Hall at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo.
Climate change is not only about temperature, but also about time. The speed at which the planet is warming is bringing us closer to critical tipping points. Yet, some of the most powerful actions we can take today target super climate pollutants, offering a way to slow warming in the near term while improving food and energy security and supporting healthier communities.
Super climate pollutants such as methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons and tropospheric ozone are major drivers of near-term warming and poor air quality. Deploying proven, readily available solutions at scale to reduce these pollutants provides a practical and feasible pathway to slow warming in the near term. This matters because most climate efforts have focused on reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂). However, science shows that if we are to slow the rate of warming in the coming decades, tackling these non-CO₂ super climate pollutants is essential.
Romina Picolotti will join UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala to discuss why these pollutants matter, what progress is already being made and what more is needed to accelerate action in this race against time. The conversation will reflect on how practical and coordinated measures can complement long-term CO₂ reductions and help move us towards a more balanced and resilient future. The discussion will highlight the role of international cooperation, including through the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, in turning ambition into implementation and advancing solutions at scale.
This event is part of the UNU Conversation Series, which aims to foster audience participation. You are encouraged to engage with the speakers during the conversation and at the reception that will follow, where all event attendees are invited to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks while exchanging ideas and making new contacts.
Please note that this event will be conducted in English. Advance registration (by 11 May at 15:00) is required. Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page. Please be prepared to present identification at check-in.
About the Speaker
Romina Picolotti is a former Minister of Environment of Argentina and an international environmental lawyer with over three decades of experience working on climate change, human rights and sustainable development. She is currently a Senior Climate Policy Advisor at the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development and founder of the Center for Human Rights and Environment. She has worked extensively at the international level to advance action on climate and air pollution, including through the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, where she served on the Board from its inception. Her work focuses on turning environmental commitments into practical action, particularly in developing countries.
