An Assessment of the Abatement Options and Costs for Reducing the Emissions of the Engineered Chemicals

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the radiative impact of the following compounds: chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), halons, and methyl bromide. For decades, these synthetic halocarbons have been widely used as refrigerants, blowing agents in foam production, propellants for aerosol applications, solvents, surfactants, and fire-fighting. The non-ozone-depleting HFCs are progressively substituting CFCs and HCFCs in many of their applications, leading to rapidly growing emissions rates of HFCs. For this reason, and because of their atmospheric persistence, they have been included into the Kyoto-Protocol. PFCs and SF6 have also been included for the same reasons. The direct global warming potentials (GWP) of these gases range from a few hundred to more than 20,000 times CO 2 -equivalent, when calculated over a 100-year period. Within the stratosphere, the chlorinated and brominated compounds are the prime causes of ozone depletion. This contribution to ozone depletion adds an indirect cooling to the radiative effect of these compounds. This chapter assesses the contribution to climate change resulting from emissions of the group of halogenated greenhouse gases. A bottom-up emission model covering 22 technological sectors in four major regions is described.