As Production Moves to Asia, So Do Emissions Issues

As we have outsourced our production to Asia, have we outsourced our pollution, too? Apparently, emissions from Asia are generating stronger storms over the North Pacific and may have an impact on weather across the northern hemisphere, according to a team of researchers from the National Academy of Sciences who studied clouds and pollution over the last twenty years.

The researchers report that satellite measurements have shown an increase in tiny particles generated from coal burning in China and India in recent decades.

The particles cause changes in storm patterns, which in turn, creates a threat of increased warming of polar regions.

Fortunately there has been a reduction in ozone-depleting chemicals during the same time period that has slowed the rate of global warming. In 1987, the Montreal Protocol led to a reduction in the amount of chemicals released in the atmosphere. The goal was to preserve the ozone layer, a screen against the sun’s most damaging rays.

Ozone-depleting chemicals have been released into the atmosphere in much smaller quantities since 1987, which has offset the growth of emissions in Asia. However, we are at a delicate standoff on the issue of global warming, and we should really be doing more to slow its effect, rather than just neutralize it.

Add comment March 14th, 2007