Plea to phase down a potent greenhouse gas TWO island nations vulnerable to climate change impacts, Micronesia and Mauritius, have sought curbs on a chemical that could represent a third of the total greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions by 2040. In a joint representation, the two countries sought US support to regulate production and use of hydroflourocarbons (hfcs) by getting them included

The United States intends to work toward reducing emissions of potent greenhouse gases found in refrigerators and air conditioning systems but has not yet decided which international venue to use to advance the issue, US officials said on Monday.

Two island nations, Micronesia and Mauritius, filed a proposed amendment on 30th April 09 to regulate HFCs under the Montreal Protocol ozone treaty. HFC emissions are expected to grow rapidly over the next few decades, equaling about one third of the climate problem by 2040.

The IGSD press release on a joint proposal by Micronesia and Mauritius for phasing down HFCs which could otherwise be responsible for 1/3rd of total climate emissions by 2040. The U.S. is also considering submitting its own proposal on HFCs to the Montreal Protocol.

This year will see an intensive round of international negotiations, culminating in the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in December as governments thrash out a deal to combat climate change.

The international treaty drawn up to tackle ozone-destroying substances is gearing up to curb greenhouse gases.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that De

The international day for the preservation of the ozone layer is being observed on Tuesday with focus on combating the depletion of the earth

The world can ill afford to haggle over climate change

Brahma Chellaney

Climate change has been correctly identified as a threat multiplier. Yet it has already become a divisive issue, with the danger that the rich nations' efforts to lock in their advantages by revising the 1992 Rio bargain and rejigging their Kyoto Protocol obligations through a new regime could create another global divide between haves and have-nots

It is now common knowledge that the Montreal Protocol in its effort to phase out the use of ozone depleting substances, especially CFCs, also alleviated the growing climate problem significantly. Some say the world was given a grace period of 10 years in which to react to the potentially cataclysmic effects of climate change. This publication attempts to provide information and guidance to decision makers in developing countries, both in government and the private sector.

Pages