News
IGSD co-authors new book on super climate pollutants
April 29, 2021
Durwood Zaelke, IGSD President, and Stephen O. Andersen, IGSD Director of Research, joined long-term collaborator Alan Miller to present IGSD’s work on short-lived in an accessible book designed for both citizens and policymakers. Resetting Our Future: Cut Super Climate Pollutants Now! describes the ozone treaty’s urgent lessons for speeding climate action and issues a call to action to cut warming by half in the next decade. Additional information, including the Table of Contents, here. read more
Is it possible to limit global warming to below two degrees Celsius? (interview)
April 22, 2021
IGSD President Durwood Zaelke answers the questions with a definitive “yes,” reminding us it is not only attainable but also more cost-effective than the cost of inaction. Zaelke also comments on U.S. China cooperation on climate and on President Biden’s Earth Day Leaders Climate Summit. read more
Durwood Zaelke Awarded Beyond Duke Service and Leadership Award
April 12, 2021
Duke University honored Durwood Zaelke, a 1972 graduate of Duke Law School, with its 2020 Beyond Duke Service and Leadership Award in an online ceremony. Watch the virtual award ceremony here. read more
Study Finds Gulf Stream in the Atlantic at its Weakest (interview)
March 2, 2021
IGSD President Durwood Zaelke explains how a weakened Gulf Stream is an indication of the non-linear feedbacks and tipping points we’re fast approaching. These feedbacks and tipping points are probably the weakest links in the chain of climate protection. read more
Climate Crisis: Scientists Say Rise of Temperatures Cause Melts, Landslides (interview)
February 24, 2021
IGSD President Durwood Zaelke explains we must slam on the breaks of climate warming, not just from CO2 but also the short-lived super climate pollutants (HFCs, methane, tropospheric ozone, and black carbon soot’), that can give us the fastest way to slow down the warming. read more
IGSD, Clean Air Task Force, other NGOs call on President Biden to take fast action to cut super climate pollutants
January 29, 2021
In addition to putting super pollutants on the agenda of President Biden’s 22 April climate summit, the NGO letter urges the Administration “to make mitigation of super pollutants a priority in all of the international consultations and negotiations that will take place this year”, including COP 26 in Glasgow and the Arctic Council ministerial. read more
Pandemic Relief Bill Mandates HFC Phasedown in Compliance with Montreal Protocol’s Kigali Amendment
January 8, 2021
In a huge win for the environment and American businesses, the Consolidated Appropriations Act that was signed into law on 27 December 2020 phases down potent greenhouse gases HFCs. Reducing HFC refrigerants could avoid up to 0.5°C of future warming. Climate benefits could double with parallel improvements in energy efficiency of cooling equipment. read more
K. Madhava Sarma & K. Ramalakshmi Montreal Protocol Science Champion Award
December 9, 2020
The award is designed to promote science-based investigations to strengthen the Montreal Protocol. Award recipient will receive a US$5,000 research stipend plus sponsorship of air travel and expenses to attend one of the week-long meetings of the Montreal Protocol where the findings of the sponsored work will be presented in a side event. Nomination Deadline: 15 January 2021. read more
Durwood Zaelke and IGSD hail John Kerry’s climate appointment to National Security Council by President-elect Joe Biden
November 23, 2020
John Kerry not only was instrumental in delivering the Paris Agreement, he also was key for winning the Kigali Amendment to phase down HFC refrigerants and avoid up to 0.5°C of warming—the single biggest bite yet taken out of the climate problem. read more
NRP: Remembering Mario Molina
November 2, 2020
One of the scientists who discovered how CFC chemicals deplete the ozone layer passed away on October 7, 2020. Mario Molina shared a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery, which led to the historic worldwide ban on CFCs under the Montreal Protocol. In later life, Molina also fought to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change. NPR Living on Earth’s Paloma Beltran has the story. read more
