Effective realization of abatement measures can reduce HFC-23 emissions
article
HFC-23 is a potent greenhouse gas, predominantly emitted as an undesired by product during the synthesis and processing of HCFC-22 (ref. 1). Previously, the Clean Development Mechanism and national eforts called for the implementation of abatement technology for reducing HFC-23 emissions2,3 . Nevertheless, between 2015 and 2019, a divergence was found between the global emissions derived from atmospheric observations and those expected from reported abatement1,2 . Primarily, this points to insufcient implementation of abatement strategies2,4 , calling for independent verifcation of the emissions at the individual chemical facility level. Here we use regional atmospheric observations and a new, deliberately released tracer to quantify the HFC-23 emissions from an HCFC-22 and fuoropolymer production facility, which is equipped with waste gas destruction technology. We fnd that our inferred HFC-23/HCFC-22 emission factor of 0.19% (0.13–0.24%) broadly fts within the emission factor considered practicable for abatement projects5,6 . Extrapolation to global HCFC-22 production underscores that the operation of appropriate destruction technology has the potential to reduce global HFC-23 emissions by at least 84% (69–100%) (14 (12–16) Gg yr−1). This reduction is equivalent to 17% CO2 emissions from aviation in 2019 (ref. 7). We also demonstrate co-destruction of PFC-318, another by-product and greenhouse gas. Our fndings show the importance of the 2016 Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which obligates parties to destroy HFC-23 emissions from facilities manufacturing hydrochlorofuorocarbons and hydrofuorocarbons “to the extent practicable” from 2020 onwards
Topics
TNO Identifier
1001188
Source
Nature, pp. 1-10.
Pages
1-10
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