Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases

Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases: Aerosols

Key Points

Global baseline emissions in 2010 for aerosols were estimated at 45 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) and projected to climb to 100 MtCO₂e and 146 MtCO₂e by 2020 and 2030, respectively.
Five abatement measures were considered for the aerosols sector, including transitioning away from HFC use to lower GWP propellants and producing alternative non-aerosol consumer products, such as a stick or roller.
Relatively low cost abatement measures (≤ $5/tCO₂e ) are projected to be capable of mitigating 53% of the sector emissions in 2030.

Sector Description

Aerosol propellant formulations containing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are present in a wide variety of consumer products—such as hairsprays, deodorants, and cleaning supplies—as well as technical and medical aerosols. Baseline HFC emissions from aerosols were estimated at 45 MtCO₂e in 2010 and are expected to increase to 146 MtCO₂e by 2030. This rapid growth is primarily driven by the increased use of aerosols containing HFCs in developing countries.

2030 emissions from aerosol product use are projected to be 146 million MtCO2e, or 1% of total non-CO2 emissions. Projected 2030 top five emitting countries for aerosol product use are China, the United States, India, Russia, and Mexico. View or download the full-size image here.(125 K, PNG)

Emissions Reduction Potential

Assuming full implementation of current technology, emissions in the aerosols product use sector could be reduced by up to 97 MtCO₂e in 2030. This accounts for 2% of the 4,615 MtCO₂e in global reduction potential in 2030.

Potential for HFC reductions from aerosol product use: Emissions with full implementation of current technology could be reduced by up to 97 MtCO2e in 2030, or 2% of the 4,615 MtCO2e in global reduction potential for non-CO2 greenhouse gases in 2030. View or download the full-size image here.(101 K, PNG)

Abatement Potential

The global abatement potential from aerosols containing HFCs is estimated to be 96.7 MtCO₂e—66% of BAU emissions from this sector and 5% of total annual emissions from all sectors that use ozone-depleting substance substitutes in 2030. At $5 per tCO₂e, the abatement potential is estimated to be 53.4% of baseline emissions, or 77.8 MtCO₂e. Furthermore, the abatement potential at prices ≤ $0 per tCO₂e is forecasted to be 70 MtCO₂e (48.2% of BAU emissions) for 2030.

2030 baseline projected global HFC emissions from aerosol product use: It would be cost-effective to reduce emissions by 48% compared to the baseline. An additional 18% reduction is available using technologies with increasingly higher costs. It would be cost-effective to reduce emissions by 48%, compared to the baseline, in 2030. An additional 18% reduction is available using technologies with increasingly higher costs.

View or download the full-size image here.(36 K, PNG)

Abatement Measures

Abatement options available to reduce emissions for consumer aerosol products include transitioning to replacement propellants with lower GWPs—HCs, HFO-1234ze, and HFC-152a (where HFC-134a is used)—and converting to a not-in-kind (NIK) alternative, such as sticks, rollers, or finger/trigger pumps.

Achievable reductions in aerosol product use HFC emissions, by technology, in 2030. The solid bars show reductions achievable at a cost less than $0/tCO2e, and the fading bars show the reductions achievable at a higher prices. Emissions reductions by technology in 2030 at $0/tCO₂e and at higher prices.

View or download the full-size image here.(41 K, PNG)

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