Through atmospheric measurements, scientists have identified a chemical factory operated by Solvay in Southern Germany as the source of massive amounts of Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF₆) emissions. Being 24,000 times as bad as CO₂, SF₆ is the most potent known greenhouse gas.

Solvay’s factory reported only 56 kilograms of SF₆ emissions for 2023 to Germany’s industrial emissions register. The scientist’s estimates are 500 times higher: around 30 tons. Its effect on the atmosphere is more than that of 700,000 tons of CO₂ due to the high global warming potential of SF₆, comparable to a coal-fired power plant.

    • aeno@discuss.tchncs.de
      7·
      4 months ago

      The Ministry also said that it is legally not possible to order a shutdown of the production facility. German law allows revoking the permit for a facility only if there is an immediate risk to human health or a significant immediate risk to the environment. While there is little doubt that greenhouse gases like SF₆ pose risks to the environment and human health, those are long-term.

      This is why we’re all gonna die

      • huppakee@piefed.socialEnglish
        4·
        4 months ago

        a significant immediate risk to the environment

        Thank God we don’t have to do anything because the significant risk to the environment will not harm us today.