Lower emissions during lockdown linked to rapid rise in methane.

The article discusses the impact of reduced air pollution during the COVID-19 lockdowns on atmospheric methane levels, highlighting a significant increase in methane emissions from approximately 20 million tonnes per year to about 40 million tonnes per year between 2020 and 2022. This surge is attributed to decreased emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are essential for breaking down methane, alongside increased methane emissions from wetlands and agriculture. The research indicates that the decline in hydroxyl radicals, which help decompose methane, accounted for 83% of the variation in methane growth rates during this period. Additionally, the article notes the unintended environmental consequences of refrigerants, leading to a tripling of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) levels, a toxic "forever chemical," due to the replacement of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs). [Extracted from the article]