Policy, Law, Economics and Politics - Deepening Democracy through Access to Information
This privately-owned website is operated and maintained by Creamer Media
We have detected that the browser you are using is no longer supported. As a result, some content may not display correctly.
We suggest that you upgrade to the latest version of any of the following browsers:
         
close notification
25 May 2012
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
DOWNLOAD
HFC's: A critical link in protecting climate and the ozone layer - 1 772 KB
 

Large amounts of carbon dioxide emitted by chemicals used increasingly in air conditioners, refrigerators, fire-fighting equipment and insulation foams could undermine efforts to keep global temperature rise under two degrees Celsius this century, according to a report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The chemicals, collectively known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are becoming popular as replacements for those phased out or being phased out to protect the ozone layer – Earth’s atmospheric shield that filters out dangerous levels of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

The UNEP study projects that by 2050 HFCs could be responsible for emissions equivalent to 3.5 to 8.8 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide, comparable to total current annual emissions from transport, estimated at around six to seven Gt annually.

Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter
 
 
 
 
  Photos
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advertisements:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Related social media
 
Related social media terms:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Topics on this page
 
 
 
Industry Term
 
Chemicals
Transport
 
 
 
 
 
 
Online Publishers Association