US Targets Emissions of N2O With Eye Toward US-China Climate Agreement

"Reducing nitrous oxide emissions from U.S. chemical plants could reduce greenhouse gas emissions at little cost. Similar plants in China offer a “far bigger prize.”"

"WASHINGTON, D.C.—The first details of a potential, and possibly massive, climate agreement between the U.S. and China were announced at a climate summit at the White House on Tuesday.

The initiative could significantly reduce emissions of nitrous oxide, a potent and largely overlooked greenhouse gas that also harms the ozone layer. Targeting this N2O pollution from a limited number of chemical plants in the two countries offers an opportunity to quickly reduce a large volume of greenhouse gas emissions at little cost.

Biden administration officials and climate scientists who track so-called super-pollutants say bilateral efforts targeting industrial N2O began after Inside Climate News reported on these emissions from factories in the U.S. and China, showing how a powerful source of greenhouse gas emissions could be easily eliminated.

If successful, the two countries could reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking approximately 50 million automobiles off the road at a fraction of the cost of other emission reduction efforts."

Phil McKenna reports for Inside Climate News July 23, 2024.

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"US Targets Nitrous Oxide In New Phase Of Climate Fight" (Reuters)

Source: Inside Climate News, 07/26/2024