Is safety the real concern?

Fear about safe use of natural refrigerants is more a political agenda and less a concern for safety

HFC phase down: what is the relationship between cost and ambition?

Coming to a consensus on the relationship between cost and ambition will be crucial in determining the nature of the HFC phase-down amendment

Children born today will see literally thousands of animals disappear in their lifetime, as global food webs collapse

However, if we manage to achieve a lower carbon-emissions pathway that limits global warming to less than 3℃ by the end of this century, we …

Banned chemical still depleting the ozone, says NASA

Carbon tetrachloride, banned under Montreal Protocol, still lingering in atmosphere

Ozone

CSE holds workshop on how to phase out HFCs at Montreal Protocol meet

Delhi non-profit proposes co-benefit approach on climate and energy benefits

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework presents false solutions, says youth group

‘No clear component in framework to regulate actors causing destruction of biodiversity, ecosystems’

China announces major cuts in industrial production of ozone depleting substances

Move will eliminate over 93 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in greenhouse gas emissions

Traders smuggle potent greenhouse gas, primarily used for cooling, to Europe: EIA investigation

Traders have been illegally sourcing hydrofluorocarbon, primarily from China and Türkiye, and routing it through Bulgaria into the rest of …

India decides to put the brakes on HFO in foam sector for now

The government has instead proposed transition to cyclopentane in SMEs

A win-win deal

The agreement to amend the Montreal Protocol for hydrofluorocarbon phase-down is a huge success for India

Talks on Montreal Protocol amendment proposals begin

One of the major concerns in the discussion on fixing a baseline or freeze dates is the non-existence of data on HFCs by the developing countries

Can Montreal help communities: COP15 negotiators have their work cut out; here is how   

Developed countries are expected to oppose their developing counterparts; but change is imperative  

Multilateral fund offers $5.33 billion over 4 years to help solve biodiversity woes

The amount offered by the Global Environment Facility is much less than the $60 billion suggested by one non-profit

Is ozone layer depletion a ‘solved problem’?

On the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, here is a reminder of how continued adherence to norms is key if we don’t …

Lungs, beware

Switching to ozone-friendly inhalers is not going to be easy

Should HFCs be dealt under Montreal Protocol or Kyoto Protocol?

The climate-damaging refrigerant gases have currently been kept out of the Montreal Protocol that deals with phasing out ozone depleting substances

Montreal Protocol: crucial meet on HFCs begins

Should these coolant gases be discussed under Montreal Protocol? Outcome of Bangkok meet may influence climate talks later this year

Chief culprit

Study warns that in the future climate change could be primarily responsible for ozone depletion

Adopt ‘traditional knowledge’ indicators for monitoring global biodiversity framework: Amnesty International

Existing indicators overlook Indigenous rights, fail to recognise these communuities’ essential role in conserving biodiversity

India asks developed countries to practice what they preach at HFC phase-down amendment negotiations

The five baseline proposals submitted at the talks in Vienna have now come down to two

COP15 Montreal: Abalone, dugong, pillar coral threatened with extinction

As many as 44 per cent of all abalone shellfish species threatened with extinction; dugongs and pillar coral added to the IUCN Red List

Can Montreal help communities: DTE’s coverage on access and benefit-sharing in the run-up to COP15

Benefits arising from the use of biodiversity have not been shared equitably with communities who have protected it for centuries

Down To Earth wins prestigious Ozone Awards for best media coverage

The jury chose Down To Earth for its extensive and incisive reportage on ozone spanning over 25 years

Change in safety standards a must for successful transition from HFCs to hydrocarbons

The only major barrier to the large scale use of hydrocarbons has been the safety concerns over the high flammability of these refrigerants