Growth of the electronics industry will boost emissions of a ‘hidden’ — but extremely potent — greenhouse gas.
Our insatiable appetite for gadgets — mobile phones, MP3 players and flat-screen TVs — may be adding a hidden greenhouse gas to the Earth’s atmosphere. Countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol committed to reducing their emissions of carbon dioxide and five other heat-trapping gases: methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. But these aren’t the only climate-altering chemicals being produced by human activity. In the 13 years since the Protocol was first drawn up, scientists have discovered that other gases, such as nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), could become an increasing part of the climate problem.
:: Read more in Nature Reports: Climate Change ::