Rising Levels of Super Greenhouse Gas Spurs Conflict-

As it turns out, carbon dioxide and other highly exposed greenhouse gases are not the only threat to the environment; a highly toxic chemical by-product called HFC-23 is now causing waves in the eco-community. HFC-23 is a superfluous after-effect resulting from the production of another greenhouse gas, HCFC-22, a refrigerant used in air conditioners and refrigerators and as a feedstock for other chemicals. One pound of HFC-23 is 14,800 times more powerful than one pound of CO2 in altering climate conditions over a time frame of around 100 years. Remarkable growth in this ‘super greenhouse gas’ is suspected to be due to a failure in governance under the Kyoto Protocol and its Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and in turn has spurred the Montreal Protocol ozone treaty which will work to control a production phase-down to match climate efforts under Kyoto. According to scientists who work on the Montreal Protocol Scientific and Technology Assessment Panels, HFC-23 emissions have risen far more quickly than previously expected. Furthermore, a mere 43 percent are being eliminated under the Kyoto CDM mechanism; however, it is feasible that certain companies obtaining financial support under the Kyoto CDM are not fulfilling their obligations in eradicating HFC-23. Dr. Stephen Montzka of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, along with his co-authors, assess that approximately 13,500 metric tons of the dangerous contaminate is being released annually on a global scale; estimates which are close to 50 percent higher than in the 1990’s. Roughly 11,000 of the annual 13,500 metric tons originated from developing countries.