(Corrects spelling of ‘Dreyfus’ in ninth paragraph)
By Valerie Volcovici
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Biden administration on Tuesday introduced it might 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 battle local weather change below the Paris settlement.
The concentrate on industrial gases follows U.S. measures to scale back methane emissions, which yielded a global marketing campaign to get different international locations to make large cuts in addition to home reductions.
Like methane, nitrous oxide is a shorter-lived however potent supply of world warming, so the U.S. hopes focusing on it would yield fast and cheap positive aspects within the battle in opposition to 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,” mentioned John Podesta, Senior Adviser to the President for Worldwide Local weather Coverage.
The White Home kicked off the hassle with an occasion on Tuesday and bulletins by industrial corporations, together with Ascend Efficiency Supplies, which might be taking voluntary actions to chop nitrous oxide emissions, officers mentioned.
Nitrous oxide emissions come from quite a lot of sources together with the manufacturing of some fertilizers and artificial supplies equivalent to nylon.
A State Division official informed Reuters that it could price as little as $10 per metric ton to scale back nitrous oxide emissions by initiatives carried out by the voluntary carbon offset market.
Final yr, the U.S. and China agreed to incorporate a dedication to scale back all non-carbon greenhouse gases of their new nationwide local weather plans below the Paris local weather settlement, that are on account of be submitted to the United Nations subsequent yr.
Gabrielle Dreyfus, chief scientist for the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Growth, mentioned 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 mentioned.
Podesta informed one other occasion hosted by IGSD, the Asia Society and assume tank Local weather Advisers that he’ll journey to China to satisfy with counterparts “later this year”.
Tuesday’s occasion additionally included a dedication of $300 million from philanthropies for the World Methane Hub, which helps initiatives to chop methane emissions around the globe.