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Study finds global emissions of several banned ozone-destroying CFCs are increasing

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New analysis has found increasing emissions of several ozone-depleting chemicals despite their production being banned for most uses under the Montreal Protocol—and a loophole in the rules is likely responsible. According to the researchers, emissions from these CFCs currently do not significantly threaten ozone recovery.

Ozone 353
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UCL-led study finds climate impact caused by growing space industry needs urgent mitigation

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The rapidly growing space industry may have a greater climate effect than the aviation industry and undo repair to the protective ozone layer if left unregulated, according to a new study led by UCL and published in the journal Earth’s Future as an open-access paper. The space industry is one of the world’s fastest growing sectors.

Climate 428
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Study: 25% EV adoption would save US $17B annually from avoided climate change & pollution damages

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A new study led by researchers from Northwestern University projects that if electric vehicles replaced 25% of combustion engine cars currently on the road, the United States would save approximately $17 billion annually by avoiding damages from climate change and air pollution. The open-access paper is published in AGU’s journal GeoHealth.

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UCI-led study finds California’s strict air quality regulations have helped farmers

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They found that reductions in ground ozone during this 35-year period resulted in $600 million in increased production annually by the early 2010s. Another difference is that some grains can be annually modified to withstand greater heat and even higher ozone levels in the air. An open-access paper on the work appears in Nature Food.

Ozone 186
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UN report projects that increasing use of HFCs likely to have a significant climate impact by 2050; equivalent to current total annual emissions from transport

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The decrease in CO 2 equivalent emissions of ODSs (ozone-depleting substances: CFCs, halons, HCFCs, and others) may be offset by the projected increase in their non-ozone depleting substitutes (HFCs) (lines designated as HFC scenarios). The contribution of HFCs to climate forcing is currently less than 1% of all greenhouse gases.

Climate 287
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California introduces first-in-nation rules to reduce climate “super pollutants” from commercial refrigeration, air conditioning equipment

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HFCs are synthetic gases that are used in a variety of applications, but mainly to replace ozone-depleting substances in aerosols, foams, refrigeration and air-conditioning. The California Air Resources Board recently approved first-in-the-nation rules to curb the impact of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants.

Pollution 281
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California ARB releases final version of proposed update to Climate Change Scoping Plan; LEV IV

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the final version of the proposed First Update to the Climate Change Scoping Plan (First Update). Deployment of fuel efficient vehicle tires for in-use vehicles could include limited incentives, followed by ratings and then standard setting to permanently shift the market. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has released.