Emissions of banned ozone-destroying chemicals increasing

The high altitude research station Jungfraujoch is situated on a mountain saddle in the central Swiss Alps between the Jungfrau (3580 m'a.s.l.) in the West and the Moench (4099 m'a.s.l.) in the East. According to the researchers, emissions from these CFCs currently do not significantly threaten ozone recovery. With the current rate of increase, however, they could become a significant contribution of the total emissions of ozone-depletion chemicals. Image: Empa A new analysis has found rapidly increasing emissions between 2010 and 2020 of five ozone-depleting chemicals whose production for most uses had been banned under the Montreal Protocol. The emissions of these five chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, occur in part from leakage during the synthesis of ozone-friendly alternatives to CFCs. Even though such byor intermediate product emissions are allowed as an exception under the Montreal protocol, they are contrary to its wider goal - and the observed increases rise concerns.