FED: New gases in greenhouse alert
PARLY 016Mon Sep 14 23:10:04 EST 2009
Mon Sep 14 13:10:04 UTC 2009
Subject: [Fwd: FED: New gases in greenhouse alert] name="FED: New gases in greenhouse alert.eml" filename="FED: New gases in greenhouse alert.eml" Subject: FED: New gases in greenhouse alert FED: New gases in greenhouse alert
CANBERRA, Sept 14 AAP - The federal government will consider a proposal to cut the use of hydroflurocarbons (HFCs), a group of powerful greenhouse gases.
The Senate resolved to support the proposal, put forward by the two island nations of Micronesia and Mauritius, in June and an official response was issued on Monday by the government.
Minister for Climate Change Penny Wong said the government would consider the proposal carefully.
HFC emissions have increased dramatically in recent years, due mostly to their use as a replacement for the ozone-damaging chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) best known for their use in refrigeration and pressurised containers.
While HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer, some are potent greenhouse gases.
Micronesia and Mauritius have proposed that the most greenhouse-intensive HFCs be phased-down by amending the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer to include HFCs along with CFCs.
Minister Wong said the government would work with other countries to explore how the Montreal Protocol could assist with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, in conjunction with the United Nations.
AAP sjc/ca/jnb=0A
FED: New gases in greenhouse alert