US President Joe Biden's administration is slashing the domestic production and use of hydrofluorocarbons, the highly potent greenhouse gases commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners.
The super-pollutants, known as HFCs, can be hundreds to thousands times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, exacerbating the climate crisis.
New rules unveiled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday are intended to decrease US production and use of HFCs by 85 per cent over the next 15 years, part of a global phase-out designed to slow global warming.
The rules "are expected to reduce emissions by the equivalent of 4.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2050," White House national climate advisor Gina McCarthy told reporters.
"That's as much as three entire years of emissions from our power sector."
Last year, Congress passed a law targeting HFCs with support from both Democrats and Republicans.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the phase-down is backed by a coalition of industry groups that see it as an opportunity to “supercharge” American leadership on domestic manufacturing and production of alternative refrigerants.
The industry has long been shifting to the use of alternative refrigerants and pushed for a federal standard to avoid a patchwork of state laws and regulations.
“This action reaffirms what President Biden always says — that when he thinks about climate, he thinks about jobs,” Mr Regan said, echoing a Biden refrain about climate change.
If similar reductions are implemented worldwide, it can prevent up to 0.5°C of planetary heating by the end of this century, Mr Regan said.
A pandemic relief and spending bill passed by Congress last December directs the EPA to sharply reduce production and use of HFCs.
The measure won wide support and was hailed as the most significant climate change law in at least a decade.
The Paris climate accord of 2015 calls for the world to hold warming to 1.5°C to avert a future filled with extreme weather events, desertification, mass species extinction and food insecurity.
HFCs were not always considered bad news.
They were first introduced in the 1990s, before their powerful heat-trapping properties were understood, to replace chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that had been found to erode the ozone layer.
Getting%20there
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Fitness problems in men's tennis
Andy Murray - hip
Novak Djokovic - elbow
Roger Federer - back
Stan Wawrinka - knee
Kei Nishikori - wrist
Marin Cilic - adductor
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
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Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
