Press Releases
Black carbon ranked number two climate pollutant by US EPA
March 30, 2012
The US Environmental Protection Agency concluded in a report to Congress released today that targeted strategies to reduce black carbon “can be expected to provide climate benefits within the next several decades,” based on black carbon’s strong warming potential and its short atmospheric lifetime of days to weeks. read more
Reducing Production of Super Greenhouse Gas Under Montreal Protocol Is Critical Climate Strategy
February 24, 2012
Phasing down the production and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol ozone treaty is one of the most effective climate protection strategies available to the world today: it could… read more
Secretary Clinton and Allies Open Second Front In Fight Against Global Warming
February 16, 2012
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, and environmental ministers from five other countries announced today the formal launch of a new initiative on Climate and Clean Air to Reduce Short-lived Climate Pollutants. read more
Fast action climate mitigation measures can prevent 0.5°C of global warming and help avoid the 2°C danger limit
January 12, 2012
A new study in Science to be published 13 January identifies 14 fast action measures to reduce air pollutants that can deliver major benefits for climate, public health, and agriculture. read more
EPA approves alternatives for super-greenhouse HFC refrigerants
December 16, 2011
The U.S. EPA took a major step this week towards reducing the fastest growing greenhouses gas in the United States by approving three low global warming potential (GWP) hydrocarbon alternatives to hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants. read more
UNEP tells Durban negotiators fast action on black carbon and other air pollutants can cut rate of global warming in half
December 9, 2011
The rate of global warming can be cut almost in half over the next 30 to 60 years with a package of 16 fast-action mitigation measures that reduce two local air pollutants… read more
Island Effort to Slow Sea Level Rise Blocked at Bali Montreal Protocol Meeting
November 25, 2011
At the 23rd annual meeting of the Montreal Protocol ozone treaty in Bali, Indonesia 21-25 November, a strong and vocal majority of 108 Parties supported a plea by island nations to phase down super greenhouse gases… read more
Fast cuts to non-CO2 climate pollutants can cut rate of warming in half
November 25, 2011
A new UNEP report details how fast action to reduce non-CO2 short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs), including black carbon, methane and tropospheric ozone, can cut the rate of global warming in half and the Arctic by two-thirds over the next 30-60 years. read more
Weather disasters increasing from climate change, says UN
November 18, 2011
A definitive UN science report released today confirms the link between climate change and extreme weather events, including punishing heat waves, droughts, and torrential rains and resulting floods. read more
Central America launches two national pilot projects to speed safe destruction of ozone-depleting substances and persistent organic pollutants
October 21, 2011
Destroying large banks of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), harmful to the earth’s atmosphere, together with persistent organic pollutants (POPs), damaging to human health and the environment, are the twin aims of a unique regional partnership launched today in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. This initiative is supported financially by Norway and Switzerland. read more