The world’s developing nations are pumping growing amounts of chemicals into the atmosphere that pose a threat to the Earth’s protective ozone layer, a new study has found.
Levels of the family of compounds — known as HCFCs — rose up to twice as fast in 2007 as in 2004, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration study.
The analysis, based on global air sampling, was done by researcher’s at NOAA’s Boulder- based Earth System Research Laboratory.
Since 2004, global HCFC emissions are up as much 60 percent, according to the study published in Geophysical Research Letters this month.
“For years the developed countries, including the United States, have been the force driving change in the atmosphere,” Stephen Montzka, the lead NOAA researcher.
“HCFCs are an example where change is no longer in our hands,” Montzka said. “The future is in the developing countries.”
Overall, ozone-destroying chlorine chemicals are being reduced worldwide, but the rise in HCFCs — hydrochlorofluorocarbons — offset a third of that reduction in 2007.
“That is not good news and it shows we have some challenges ahead,” said Drusilla Hufford, director of the Stratospheric Protection Division at the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Ozone is a ground-level air pollutant that can impair breathing and is created by emissions from sources such as auto tailpipes and power plant smokestacks mixing with heat and sunlight.
In the stratosphere — more than 6 miles above the Earth’s surface — intense sunlight creates a natural layer of ozone, which shields us from deadly ultraviolet rays.
In the 1970s, scientists discovered compounds called CFCs — used in air conditioners, refrigerators and aerosol cans — were making their way to the stratosphere and destroying the protective ozone layer.
In 1987, the Montreal Protocol was adopted — 193 countries have signed — with the aim of phasing out all ozone- threatening chemicals.
Under the treaty, industrial nations had to make the first cuts and developing countries would follow.
“Whatever the developed countries do, the developing world gets about an extra ten years,” said David Doniger, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Climate Center in Washington, D.C.
The protocol also set up the Multilateral Fund, with about $2.8 billion to help developing countries change to new products and technology. One early step was to switch from CFCs to HCFCs, which pose less of a threat.
“Some molecules make it to the stratosphere more efficiently,” said NOAA’s Montzka.
All CFCs make the trip, but not all HCFCs make it and as a result they have only 2 percent to 11 percent of the ozone-destroying impact as CFCs, Montzka said.
Between 2000 and 2004, developed countries cut their HCFC production 50 percent as required by the protocol.
But HCFC production in developing countries jumped, and by 2006 accounted for 79 percent of global production, according to the NOAA paper.
In China, for example, HCFC production rose from 291 ozone-depleting-potential tons in 1995 to 18,000 tons in 2007, according to United Nations data.
Historically, elevated levels of HCFCs were detected in the higher latitudes — where the developed nations of North America and Europeare located.
The NOAA study, however, was able to document a more even distribution of the chemicals between high latitudes and lower latitudes where developing countries are located.
“The production and use of HCFCs in developing countries, particularly in air conditioning, the refrigeration sector and foam industries, have grown significantly over the past five years,” said Julia Anne Dearing, a spokeswoman for the Multilateral Fund.
Concerns about the rapid rise of HCFCs from developing countries led to a 2007 Montreal Protocol amendment requiring these countries to freeze emissions in 2013, followed by a 10 percent cut in 2015 and 67.5 percent cut by 2025.
Previously the only requirement was ending all use of the compounds by 2040.
The fact that HCFCs also turn out to be potent greenhouse gases that trap the Sun’s heat and contribute to climate change also prompted the action.
In December, the Multilateral Fund approved $17 million to fund HCFC phase-out plans in 101 developing nations, said Dearing.
“It has been clear that this was an issue in developing countries,” said EPA’s Hufford. “The success of the Montreal Protocol is that has had clear and measurable goals and everybody has played.”
“We really need to put a cork in this bottle before it gets out of hand,” said the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Doniger.
Mark Jaffe: 303-954-1912 or mjaffe@denverpost.com
Chlorine levels decrease globally
Under the Montreal Protocol, significant strides are being made to cut chlorine-based chemicals that can destroy the Earth’s natural, protective ozone layer. That progress has been slowed by a rise in a group of chemicals called HCFCs — hydrochloro- fluorocarbons.
Total levels of man-made chlorine in the atmosphere:
2000: 3,500 parts per trillion of chlorine.
2004: 3,400 parts per trillion of chlorine.
2007: 3,300 parts per trillion of chlorine.
Source: NOAA
