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NASA-led study identifies unprecedented depletion of stratospheric ozone layer above Arctic

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A NASA-led study has documented an unprecedented depletion of Earth’s protective ozone layer above the Arctic last winter and spring caused by an unusually prolonged period of extremely low temperatures in the stratosphere. The same ozone-loss processes occur each winter in the Arctic.

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US, China, and G-20 agree to work to global phase down of HFCs

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This was agreed by: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey,the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, as well as Ethiopia, Spain, Senegal, Brunei, Kazakhstan, and Singapore.

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United States and China agree to work together on phasing down HFCs

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While they do not deplete the ozone layer, many are highly potent greenhouse gases. Their use is growing rapidly as replacements for ozone-depleting substances that are being phased out under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

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UMD-led study finds China’s SO2 emissions down 75% since 2007, India’s up 50%; India may now be the top SO2 emitter

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Two maps compare total annual sulfur dioxide amounts for India and China during 2005 (left) and 2016 based on Ozone Monitoring Instrument measurements. Illustration: Chris McLinden, Environment and Climate Change Canada. They also cannot account for changing conditions or unforeseen policies. Click to enlarge.

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Indo-US task force to study HFC phase-down

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HFCs are chemicals are potential substitutes for ozone-depleting and climate-warming CFCs and HCFCs currently being phased out under the Montreal Protocol treaty to protect the ozone layer. The United States, Mexico, and Canada also proposed a similar amendment.

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New international Climate and Clean Air Coalition to focus on reduction of short-lived climate pollutants

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Global benefits from full implementation of measures for reduction of short-lived climate pollutants in 2030 compared to the reference scenario. The climate change benefit is estimated for a given year (2050) and human health and crop benefits are. for 2030 and beyond. Source: UNEP. Click to enlarge. Earlier post.).

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Study: air pollution causes 800,000 extra deaths a year in Europe and 8.8 million worldwide

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Many other countries, such as Canada, the USA and Australia use the WHO guideline; the EU is lagging a long way behind in this respect. When we use clean, renewable energy, we are not just fulfilling the Paris Agreement to mitigate the effects of climate change, we could also reduce air pollution-related death rates in Europe by up to 55%.

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