ClimateAugust 15, 2026

hydrofluorocarbons

HY-droh-FLOOR-oh-kar-bunz

Definition

A group of synthetic chemical compounds commonly used as refrigerants in cooling systems that act as potent greenhouse gases.

Etymology

The word is a chemical compound term formed from the Greek 'hydro' (water/hydrogen), and the chemical roots 'fluorine' and 'carbon', describing its molecular composition.

In the news

The article discusses the Kigali Amendment, which requires countries to phase down hydrofluorocarbons because their high emissions contribute significantly to global warming.

The path to a cooler future already exists

Read the full article ↗

The EastAfrican

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