Chemical Transformation of Atmospheric Aerosols and Ozone-depleting Greenhouse Gases; Policy Implications for Mitigating Ozone Depletion, Climate Change and Plastics Pollution
Song Gao, Professor of Environmental Chemistry, Duke Kunshan University and Duke University
Fri, 1 December, 2023
10:00am - 11:00am
Dr. Song Gao, Professor of Environmental Science at Duke Kunshan University
The Department of Chemistry Presents: Dr. Song Gao, Professor of Environmental Chemistry, Duke Kunshan University and Duke University
Dr. Gao will discuss the ongoing global climate change presents unprecedented challenges to the human society and ecosystems. Atmospheric aerosols and greenhouse gases represent two major radiative forcings that affect the global climate system (IPCC 2023), with aerosols (and clouds) generating the largest uncertainty in radiative forcing assessments. This talk discusses some findings on (1) secondary aerosol formation mechanisms, utilizing chamber experiments, analytical instrumentation and field sampling and (2) previously ignored synthetic chemistry pathways that convert ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to plastics and other products that pollute the environment and harm human health. This talk also illustrates the intrinsic interplay between science and policy making, discussing how narrowing the ODS and HFC feedstock exemptions under the Montreal Protocol may simultaneously help mitigate three global environmental issues: stratospheric ozone depletion, climate change and plastics pollution. This co-benefits policy framework (recently published at PNAS) is under consideration at global policy platforms such as the UNEP.
BIO
Dr. Gao received his BS at the University of Science and Technology of China (Materials Science/Chemistry) and his PhD at the University of Washington 2002. He was a postdoctoral scholar at the California Institute of Technology (Atmospheric Chemistry/Environmental Engineering) and is a Professor of Environmental Science and Chemistry at DKU.