DuPont Scientist Among Authors for Article on Climate Success of Montreal Protocol

WILMINGTON, Del., March 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DuPont (NYSE: DD) today reinforced the findings of a group of leading scientists that show the Montreal Protocol treaty has had a significant impact on protecting the Earth's climate, as well as its ozone layer.

The article, "The Importance of the Montreal Protocol in Protecting Climate," was published today in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Its authors are Guus J.M. Velders, Stephen O. Andersen, John S. Daniel, David W. Fahey and Mack McFarland, DuPont chief atmospheric scientist.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed in September 1987. It restricts the use of ozone-depleting substances, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which also are greenhouse gases. After two decades, the treaty has led to substantial reductions in the emissions of ozone depleting substances. Research indicates that the ozone layer is now recovering.

"The Montreal Protocol has had a significant impact in reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that otherwise would have been emitted to the atmosphere," said Dr. McFarland. "The swift adoption of CFC alternatives in a seamless industry transition during the 1990s, combined with not-in-kind technologies and conservation measures, has contributed to protection of both the ozone layer and the global climate. More than anything, the example set by the Montreal Protocol clearly shows that international cooperation among all stakeholders, with flexible regulations that stimulate innovation, can lead to rapid progress toward protection of the global environment."

DuPont advocates an accelerated phaseout of HCFCs, actions to minimize emissions of refrigerants and adoption of low global warming potential (GWP) alternatives, where possible. Last year, the company announced the identification of a low GWP refrigerant for auto air conditioning applications and is currently working on leveraging this low GWP technology to other refrigerant applications.

DuPont led the industry in the phaseout of CFCs and transition to environmentally acceptable alternatives. At the time, DuPont estimated that more than $135 billion of existing equipment in the United States alone depended on CFCs, including more than 150 million automobiles, 69 million home refrigerators and more than 70,000 building air conditioning systems. In January 1991, DuPont was the first company to launch a family of refrigerant alternatives that met performance, safety and environmental criteria and could be used in existing as well as new equipment, thus minimizing the transition cost to thousands of businesses and consumers around the world.

DuPont has reduced greenhouse gas emissions more than 70 percent since 1991, with $3 billion in avoided energy costs. Those energy savings are based on the use of improved process controls; optimization of energy generation and distribution at its facilities; new technologies with lower energy consumption, and; one of the biggest factors - improved yields from DuPont's manufacturing processes. DuPont also is reducing the use of fossil fuels by employing alternative energy sources such as landfill gas.

DuPont - one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 16 years ago - has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment, like low GWP refrigerants. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets, including products for it customers, like low GWP refrigerants that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

For more information on DuPont, visit: http://www.sustainability.dupont.com/

For a copy of the article, contact the PNAS press office at: PNASnews@nas.edu or 202-334-1310.

For a photo of Mack McFarland: http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Newsroom/ViewAttachment.aspx?SiteName=Dupon tNew&Entity=PRAsset&AttachmentType=F&EntityID=105226&AttachmentID=eabb7bce- af0d-4cc4-8761-a03046e30e15&NewWindow=true

For a copy of the NOAA chart: http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Newsroom/ViewAttachment.aspx?SiteName=Dupon tNew&Entity=PRAsset&AttachmentType=F&EntityID=105227&AttachmentID=ae36cc3d- 6741-4e07-8181-c1c4c16ba7ef&NewWindow=true

For a copy of the backgrounder on DuPont and CFCs: http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Newsroom/MultiQuery.aspx?SiteName=DupontNew &Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=105225&XSL=MediaRoomText&PageTitle=Fac t%20Sheet&IncludeChildren=true&Cache=False