Global warming fight may get boost from ozone plan - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Global warming fight may get boost from ozone plan
Fri Aug 3, 2007 5:31AM EDT

By Alister Doyle, Environment Correspondent

OSLO (Reuters) - Countries can take a big and easy step
this year to combat climate change by agreeing to tighten
a U.N. treaty outlawing gases that damage the ozone layer,
the U.N. Environment Programme said on Friday.

Most efforts to cut greenhouse gases focus on axing use
of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, with everyone from
leaders of major industrialized nations to rock stars
lining up this year to urge deeper cuts and shifts to
cleaner energies.

But UNEP said the 1987 Montreal Protocol on ozone may
take one of the biggest steps to reduce climate change
this year if nations agree at talks in September to speed
up the phase-out of HCFCs, used in refrigerants. HCFCs
destroy ozone and are also powerful greenhouse gases.

"In combating climate change there are many 'quick wins',"
said Achim Steiner, head of UNEP, noting simple measures
such as a phase-out of old-fashioned, incandescent light
bulbs or steps to boost the energy efficiency of buildings.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL0338932420070803