(This July 23 story has been corrected to repair the spelling of ‘Dreyfus’ in paragraph 9)
By Valerie Volcovici
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Biden administration on Tuesday introduced it will search to curb U.S. emissions of highly effective industrial greenhouse gases equivalent to nitrous oxide because it enters a brand new part within the nationwide technique to struggle local weather change below the Paris settlement.
The give attention to industrial gases follows U.S. measures to cut back methane emissions, which yielded a world marketing campaign to get different nations to make large cuts in addition to home reductions.
Like methane, nitrous oxide is a shorter-lived however potent supply of worldwide warming, so the U.S. hopes focusing on it should yield fast and cheap positive aspects within the struggle towards local weather change.
“Most of the discussion of climate change focuses on carbon dioxide, but super pollutants like methane and nitrous oxide cause half of the climate change we’re experiencing today,” stated John Podesta, Senior Adviser to the President for Worldwide Local weather Coverage.
The White Home kicked off the trouble with an occasion on Tuesday and bulletins by industrial firms, together with Ascend Efficiency Supplies, which can be taking voluntary actions to chop nitrous oxide emissions, officers stated.
Nitrous oxide emissions come from a wide range of sources together with the manufacturing of some fertilizers and artificial supplies equivalent to nylon.
A State Division official informed Reuters that it will probably value as little as $10 per metric ton to cut back nitrous oxide emissions via tasks carried out via the voluntary carbon offset market.
Final 12 months, the U.S. and China agreed to incorporate a dedication to cut back all non-carbon greenhouse gases of their new nationwide local weather plans below the Paris local weather settlement, that are as a result of be submitted to the United Nations subsequent 12 months.
Gabrielle Dreyfus, chief scientist for the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Improvement, stated she hoped the 2 largest industrial emitters would cooperate on nitrous oxide.
“When the U.S. and China work collectively, large issues can occur,” she stated.
Podesta informed one other occasion hosted by IGSD, the Asia Society and assume tank Local weather Advisers that he’ll journey to China to fulfill with counterparts “later this year”.
Tuesday’s occasion additionally included a dedication of $300 million from philanthropies for the International Methane Hub, which helps tasks to chop methane emissions around the globe.
