In climate conferences like COP28, more and more attention is being paid to non-CO2 greenhouse gases like methane and refrigerants. At Tradewater, we welcome this attention to a problem that is having a significant impact on the climate. Our CEO Tim Brown joined the COP28 Climate Hub to explain more about the problem and our solution.
At COP28, addressing methane and other non-CO2 gases was highlighted as a critical action and key outcome. More than ever, global leaders are recognizing that this work is critical. The question now is how they will execute solutions at the necessary scale.
When it comes to addressing global environmental challenges, the Montreal Protocol is often regarded as a model of a successful agreement that should be emulated in processes such as the COPs. However, the agreement is missing a crucial component: it mandated a ban on the production of environmentally harmful refrigerants like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) but did not address the use of already existing caches of these refrigerants. This is one of the problems that Tradewater is working to solve, and we are encouraged by the increased attention that these gases are getting. Tim Brown, CEO of Tradewater, joined the COP28 Climate Hub in Dubai to delve deeper into this subject: “Estimates are that there are about 9 billion tons of CO2 equivalent represented by [CFC] gases that are still out there in stockpiles or distributed in appliances that are at risk of being released into the atmosphere.” 
Tim Brown spoke about the importance of disposing of remaining non-CO2 climate gases at the COP28 Climate Hub.
These gases have been banned from production but are still around in old appliances or stockpiles, at risk of leaking into the atmosphere and causing harm to both the ozone layer and the climate. Even though the quantities are low, the gases’ potency means that their impact is significant. For example, R12 refrigerants are over 10,000 times as potent as CO2 in terms of global warming potential.
Tradewater’s climate solution
Tradewater creates an end-of-life scenario where these gases are aggregated and destroyed, ensuring that they are never released into the atmosphere. “The idea is to find them and create value by destroying them. There’s a really strong climate benefit that comes from this work,” said Brown in the interview. Similarly, there’s a lot of value in preventing methane from reaching the atmosphere. By finding orphaned oil and gas wells that no one is responsible for and plugging them, we prevent methane – another potent greenhouse gas that accelerates climate change in the short term – from reaching the atmosphere. “If you can find and effectively plug those wells, then in the aggregate, it ends up being a pretty strong impact.”
As no one is responsible for the stockpiles and wells that Tradewater addresses, the polluter pays principle (meaning that the actor who built the oil or gas well should be responsible for plugging it) is not applicable. We need to fund our operations in other ways. Currently, Tradewater relies on climate financing in the form of carbon credits from the compliance and voluntary markets, allowing companies to buy credits to offset their emissions while working to meet their sustainability goals. So far we have achieved an equivalent of 6.9 million tons of CO2 in impact, and we are on track to reach 22 million tonnes of impact in the next few years by removing more caches of harmful gases in the US and the rest of the world.
To learn more, watch the full interview below:
https://youtu.be/9BpV6Vz7Zic?t=8832
About the COP28 Climate Hub
•
•
10 w
I'm thrilled up by this conversation! it is encouraging to see this fellow working tirelessly to ensure that the environment is saved.
•
•
13 w
Tradewater's work is a beacon of hope in the fight against climate change.
•
•
13 w
Most people focus only on carbon emissions. Its high time that we are aware of other emissions that threaten and contribute to climate change. Kudos Tradewater
•
•
14 w
Thank you! We appreciate your support in helping us raise awareness about these urgent solutions.
•
•
14 w
Great to hear that solutions like these are reducing emissions "in the shadows", but I definitely think companies like Tradewater should get more time in the limelight for the impact you make!
•
•
14 w
We're pleased with the progress we're making in emission control and these figures show a monumental step in the right direction
•
14 w
@munene_mugambi Such progress makes one so motivated to do even better.Glad Cop 28 made an impact.
•
•
14 w
This achievement is an essential contribution to the global effort to tackle climate change & reflects increasing awareness and responsibility among businesses towards protecting our planet.💚
•
•
14 w
@gorffly_mokua curbing our carbon emissions and offsetting the current emissions is a good way to start in managing climate change
•
•
14 w
Your attention to these issues is encouraging, we should all emphasize the need for scalable solutions
•
•
14 w
@dickson_mutai we do hope to see more action oriented individuals and organisations caring about our emission control