A decrease in radiative forcing and equivalent effective chlorine from hydrochlorofluorocarbons
Luke M. Western, J. S. Daniel, Martin K. Vollmer, Scott Clingan, Molly Crotwell, Paul J. Fraser, Anita L. Ganesan, B. D. Hall, Christina M. Harth, Paul B. Krummel, Jens Mühle, Simon O’Doherty, Peter K. Salameh, Kieran Stanley, Stefan Reimann, Isaac Vimont, Dickon Young, Matthew Rigby, Ray F. Weiss, Ronald G. Prinn, S. A. Montzka
Abstract
Abstract The Montreal Protocol and its successive amendments have been successful in curbing emissions of ozone-depleting substances and potent greenhouse gases via production/consumption controls. Here we show that the radiative forcing and equivalent effective chlorine from hydrochlorofluorocarbons has decreased from 61.75 mW m − 2 and 321.69 ppt, respectively, since 2021, 5 years before the most recent projected decrease. This important milestone demonstrates the benefits of the Protocol for mitigating climate change and stratospheric ozone layer loss.