Ozone-Friendly Chemicals Lead to Warming

AP ^ | 8/20/6 | JOHN HEILPRIN

[SmithL]

Cool your home, warm the planet. When more than two dozen countries undertook in 1989 to fix the ozone hole over Antarctica, they began replacing chloroflourocarbons in refrigerators, air conditioners and hair spray.

But they had little idea that using other gases that contain chlorine or fluorine instead also would contribute greatly to global warming.

CFCs destroy ozone, the atmospheric layer that helps protect against the sun's most harmful rays, and trap the earth's heat, contributing to a rise in average surface temperatures.

In theory, the ban should have helped both problems. But the countries that first signed the Montreal Protocol 17 years ago failed to recognize that CFC users would seek out the cheapest available alternative.

The chemicals that replaced CFCs are better for the ozone layer, but do little to help global warming. These chemicals, too, act as a reflective layer in the atmosphere that traps heat like a greenhouse.

That effect is at odds with the intent of a second treaty, drawn up in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 by the same countries behind the Montreal pact. In fact, the volume of greenhouse gases created as a result of the Montreal agreement's phaseout of CFCs is two times to three times the amount of global-warming carbon dioxide the Kyoto agreement is supposed to eliminate.

This unintended consequence now haunts the nations that signed both U.N. treaties.

[SmithL]

That's what happens when you let actors and rock stars set world-wide environmental policy

[Thebaddog]

No scientist, or doctor, should ever state a study result as fact with a straight face. Their findings get turned over more than leaves in a mulch pile.

[Vaquero]

The Greens and the Reds(the same thing)wont be happy to all capitalism is wiped from the face of the earth. It is called incrimentalism...and it is a dastardly plot.

[UB355]

I worked in the mobile AC business during the switch from Freon. The whole thing was simply a money grubbing scheme on the part of the signatories. "We have placed a heavy and rising tax on manufacture of CFCs, and just last month raised that tax yet again. " http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/montreal/05.htm

[Citizen Tom Paine]

It is my unstudied opinion that no reputable scientists has ever stated how CFCs that i use in my car air conditioner in upper New York State makes in to the stratosphere over Antarctica to interact with the O3 when the sun shines on it.

In fact, I am interested in the general problem of atmospheric interchange between the northern and southern hemisphere if someone can point me to some references.

[ElkGroveDan]

This reminds me of the drive toward rechargeable batteries in the 1990s in order to save allegedly scarce landfill space. Of course rechargeable batteries then were made from cadmium, a highly toxic metal. Demand soared and "the environment" started to see more cadmium dropped about here and there.

Most of it is only of theoretical concern or garbage altogether. I love seeing leftists wet themselves over their own imaginary fears.

[Alex1977]

[syncked]

Summary: The know-it-alls didn't.
Nonetheless, we're supposed to accept that NOW they do know exactly what the future holds.

[goldstategop]

Liberals want us to swelter in the heat without air conditioning. Gotta love the irony there!

(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo!)

[EGPWS]

That's what happens when you let actors and rock stars set world-wide environmental policy

That's because most of them are liberal and the Dogma of liberalism is to fend off a non-issue only to create a bigger one to further promote their cause of fear mongering.

[goldstategop]

Exactly. No one would die of their pet causes for maybe a million years. But they snooze as Islamofascists are killing people today.

(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo!)

[EGPWS]

But they snooze as Islamofascists are killing people today.

You my FRiend deserve a pulpit to speak from!

Your insight is commendable AND refreshing!

[EGPWS]

Liberals want us to swelter in the heat without air conditioning.

YES and I can see them now swooping in to save us all from our liberal generated demised bellowing

"THERE'S NO NEED TO FEAR UNDERDOG IS HEAR!"

[ClaireSolt]

Is the author of this piece the TM candidate for President who claims to have found a unified field theory?

[norraad]

You are correct, sir!

DuPont paid for the study at USC to start the whole corrupt ballgame started.

It was all to protect patents.

Dupont was smart enough to know the stupid would protect them.

[Professional Engineer]

In theory, the ban should have helped both problems. But the countries that first signed the Montreal Protocol 17 years ago failed to recognize that CFC users would seek out the cheapest available alternative.

They didn't seek counsel with Captain Obvious. What maroons.

[SC Swamp Fox]

They didn't seek counsel with Captain Obvious.

Unbelievable! Which alternatives did they think CFC users would seek out?

This unintended consequence now haunts...
This phrase could be included in virtually every article concerning liberal policies.

[Fresh Wind]

These chemicals, too, act as a reflective layer in the atmosphere that traps heat like a greenhouse.

Wouldn't they also act as a refelective layer for incoming sunlight, thereby causing Global Cooling?

[Fire_on_High]

Forget landfill space, they save money. For what one set of rechargables and a cheap charger cost, I'd get maybe a month's worth out of my wireless keyboard with regular cheap batteries, or 3 from expensive ones. The rechargables last several years.

$10 for 3 months tops, or $10 for 3.5 years and still going strong...hmmm

[ElkGroveDan]

Capitalist pig.