Perhaps on topic re food related matters
Such as
Refrigeration
Cooking sprays
Cleaning compounds etc

Given that we are all custodians of the planet (so it is said)
an interesting take and read ,perhaps ,for some on here
Phil



Action on HFC Gases 'Low Hanging Fruit' Opportunity to Combat
Climate Change Says UN Environment Chief

Embargoed: Not for Publication or Broadcast until after 5pm Eastern
Standard Time

Nairobi, June 2009 - A scientific paper, highlighting the need to
accelerate action over a group of gases known as Hydroflurocarbons
(HFCs) as part of the climate change agenda, was today welcomed by the
head of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The findings, by an international team of researchers are published in
the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The scientists argue that HFC use could climb sharply in the coming
years in products such as insulation foams, air conditioning units and
refrigeration as replacements for ones being phased-out to protect the
ozone layer.

Under a scenario where carbon dioxide emissions are pegged to 450 parts
per million HFCs could equal nine Gigatonnes - equivalent to around 45
per cent of total C02 emissions - by 2050 if their growth is unchecked.

Conversely, rapid action to freeze and to cut emissions annually
alongside fostering readily available alternatives could see HFC
emissions fall to under one Gigatonne by 2050.

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director,
said: "Dramatically cutting carbon dioxide emissions from society's
inefficient energy use is the key to catalysing a transition to a low,
carbon, resource efficient Green Economy. It is also central to
delivering a stabilisation of the atmosphere as outlined by the
assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change".

"But there are other low hanging fruit in the climate change challenge
and this new scientific paper spotlights one of them - HFCs. By some
estimates, action to freeze and then reduce this group of gases could
buy the world the equivalent of a decades-worth of C02 emissions," he added.

The projected growth in production and consumption of HFCs is in part
linked with the success of the UNEP-administered Montreal Protocol on
substances that deplete the ozone layer.

Since the late 1980s, this treaty has successfully phased-out 97 per
cent of 100 chemicals that damage the protective shield that filters out
harmful ultra violet rays to the Earth.

Over recent years, research has outlined that global efforts to protect
the ozone layer has also delivered climate benefits as many of the
chemicals that damage the ozone layer - such as chloroflurocarbons or
CFCs - also cause global warming.

In 2007 a scientific paper calculated the climate mitigation benefits of
the ozone treaty as totalling an equivalent of 135 billion tonnes of C02
since 1990 or a delay in global warming of seven to 12 years.

In that same year countries meeting in Canada, under the Montreal
Protocol, agreed to an accelerated freeze and phase-out of
Hydrochloroflurocarbons (HCFCs)—chemicals designed to replace the old,
more ozone-damaging CFCs - in the main for the climate benefits.

The new paper indicates that unless there is action on HFCs, then
countries and companies are likely to pick this group of gases to
replace HCFCs in products such as air conditioning units, refrigeration
and insulating foams.

Guus Velders of the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, the
lead author, said in a statement: "Our team of scientists calculates
that HFCs present a significant threat to the world's efforts to
stabilise climate emissions".

"Because of the projected growth of these climate-warming chemicals,
they could represent up to 45 per cent of the total global C02 emissions
by 2050 under a scenario that stabilises C02 emissions at 450 parts per
million. Preventing strong growth in HFC use is an important climate
mitigation option the world has now".

Under a business as usual scenario, where C02 emissions are higher, HFCs
could equate to between nine and 19 per cent of C02 emissions in 2050
causing a greenhouse effect equal to 6-13 years of global C02 pollution.

In 2008, governments requested the executive secretaries of the Montreal
Protocol and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - Marco
Gonzalez and Yvo de Boer - to cooperate more closely including on the
issue of HFCs and that cooperation is on-going.