Scientists claim HFCs need to be tackled

Air monitoring has caused one group of scientists to argue the use of gases known as hydroflurocarbons (HFCs) should be limited.

As manufacturers look for a replacement to for gases being phased out in order to protect the ozone layer, the employment of HFCs in products such as air conditioning units could rapidly increase over the coming years, explained researchers.

However, the paper – which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – noted if this group of gases remains ungoverned, it could become equivalent to around 45 per cent of all CO2 emissions by 2050.

United Nations Environment Programme's (Unep) executive director Achim Steiner welcomed the research and asserted cutting carbon dioxide levels is vital to creating an efficient green economy.

He added the recent paper highlights the need to monitor HFCs too.

"By some estimates, action to freeze and then reduce this group of gases could buy the world the equivalent of a decade's worth of C02 emissions," Mr Steiner concluded.

Unep aims to encourage nations and individuals to care for the environment and work towards an improved quality of life.

Written by Claire Manning