Carbon’s bad – but watch out for perflourocarbons

So what’s with the Carbon focus? CO2 reduction, Carbon Trading, Carbon Trust carbon footprinting. Companies looking at climate change often have carbon on the brain. Why is this?

Well, the scientists tell us that carbon dioxide contributes to 80% of the problem of global warming, mainly because CO2 is so prolific. That’s why we are so bothered with it. But watch out – the other 20% comes from other greenhouse gases – some of which are evil incarnate.

Take perflourocarbons. If carbon has a warming potential of 1, perflourocarbons have a warming potential of 6,500 – 9,200 over a 100 yr time horizon. That’s a nasty gas.

Should we be bothered, if the quantities of these gases are relatively small? Well, if we are all busy inventing new ways of reducing carbon, we need to make sure we don’t produce something that emits perflourocarbons instead…

…that’s why Ems2’s name contains the word “Emissions” (as in all greenhouse gases), rather than “Carbon”. Let’s keep our eyes open folks.