An Environmental Rationale for Retention of Endangered Chemicals
Donald J. Wuebbles and James M. Calm
Some chemicals that are slated for phaseout to protect the stratospheric ozone layer offer offsetting benefits for addressing global warming. Analyses show that for chemicals with short atmospheric lifetimes and high efficiencies, the environmental benefits significantly outweigh the concerns. Because elimination of such chemicals causes more harm than good, the authors argue for integrated assessments--and avoidance of piecemeal and overly simplistic approaches--in environmental regulations.
D. J. Wuebbles is director of the Environmental Council and a professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801-3070, USA. E-mail: wuebbles{at}atmos.uiuc.edu J. M. Calm is an engineering consultant in Great Falls, VA 22066-3003, USA.
