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Bush Moves for Quicker Phase-Out of HCFC’s

A move by the U.S. President George Bush could see a speedier removal of HCFCs in refrigeration. In a move designed to go beyond the proposals of the Kyoto Protocol, the President plans to pursue a new action plan to combat global warming. His administration is framing a series of radical proposals that aim to phase out the emissions of gases that lead to climate change. This proposal will be discussed at talks in Montreal.

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HCFC

Specifically, the new American proposals are directed towards the chemicals that replaced the CFCs (or chlorofluorocarbons). Most CFC’s were phased out over the 1990s as they played a vital role in depleting the earth’s vital ozone layer. The new chemicals that replaced them are called HCFCs or (hydrochlorofluorocarbons). Used extensively in refrigeration, they are believed to be much less damaging to the ozone than CFC’s.

However, they have proved to be equally harmful as they warm up the planet around 1,700 times more quickly than carbon dioxide. Though it has already been agreed that developed nations will stop using HCFC’s by 2030 and developing nations by 2040, the U.S.A. wants these deadlines brought forward by a decade. They are to be replaced by more environmentally friendly refrigerants like Propane.

There is however no change in the position adopted by the United States on the tough international restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions. The USA is highly opposed cutting down on CO2 emissions.

Interestingly this is in contradiction to his chief scientist’s belief that reduction of CO2 emissions is vital. Professor John Marburger said recently that if CO2 emissions continued at current rate, the Earth would become ‘unlivable’.

Read: The Independent
Image: Wikipedia

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