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Studies find global COVID-19 lockdowns have significantly reduced PM2.5 and NO2 pollution, but ozone up

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Levels of two major air pollutants have been reduced significantly since lockdowns began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a secondary pollutant—ground-level ozone—has increased in China, according to new research. Ozone is harmful to humans at ground-level, causing pulmonary and heart disease. —Guy Brasseur.

Ozone 291
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International study of role of soots impact on Arctic climate

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Scientists from the US, Norway, Russia, Germany, Italy and China are participating in a study examining the potential role of black carbon, or soot, on the rapidly changing Arctic climate. The Arctic climate is changing faster than some scientists expected.

Climate 199
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US, China, and G-20 agree to work to global phase down of HFCs

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The US reached separate agreements with the G-20 and with China to address the rapid growth in the use and release of climate-damaging hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Left unabated, HFC emissions could grow to nearly 20% of carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, a serious climate mitigation concern.

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EEA report finds more action needed to protect Europe’s most vulnerable citizens from air pollution, noise and extreme temperatures

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Many regions in Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain are also characterized by lower incomes and education, higher levels of unemployment and larger elderly populations. Climate change adaptation helps to prepare for increasingly frequent and extreme heatwaves. Extreme temperatures.

Pollution 265
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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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years in life expectancy); 136 in Italy (reduction in life expectancy of 1.9 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%. They focused particularly on PM 2.5

Pollution 320
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Sponsors of SAE Study Conclude HFO-1234yf Can Be Used As Low-GWP Global Replacement Refrigerant in MAC Systems

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HFO-1234yf is a non-Ozone Depleting Substance with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 4. Tags: Climate Change Emissions Vehicle Systems. Issues concerning HFO-1234yf investigated in CRP 1234 included; safety and risk assessment; air-conditioning system efficiency and performance; material compatibility; flammability; and toxicity.

Global 186