Thursday, April 13, 2006

Two for one?

My colleague and fellow paddler Jason West just published a great study about the how cutting methane emissons could save thousands of lives worldwide.

In addition to being an important greenhouse gas, methane plays a big role in global air pollution by promoting the creation of tropospheric ozone (the ugly chemical term for smog). Reducing methane emissions could be a two for one deal - improved air quality and reduced global warming.

Jason and his colleagues answer two important questions:
i) how many lives might be saved - through reduced smog-related mortality - by reducing methane?
ii) do these health benefits offset the costs of reducing methane emissions?

Check out the media coverage in the Washington Post and the story on the Princeton site.

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