THE HIDDEN CLIMATE IMPACT OF ELECTRONICS: Many popular electronics contain liquid crystal display (LCD) panels. Every time these are made, potent fluorinated greenhouse gases, or F-GHGs, are emitted into the atmosphere. • HERE'S THE LOWDOWN: • Greenhouse gases: trap heat in the atmosphere and cause it to warm change the Earth's climate and harm ecosystems result in dangerous effects to human health and the environment CARBON DIOXIDE (C02) IS THE MOST COMMON GREENHOUSE GAS, BUT THE F-GHGS USED TO PRODUCE LCD PANELS ARE THOUSANDS • OF TIMES MORE POTENT THAN CO. 2" SF6= 23,000 TIMES MORE HEAT-TRAPPING THAN C02 NF, PFCs HFCs ------- F-GHGs are released during the manufacturing process that produces flat panel displays- one of the first steps in assembling final products like: Televisions Monitors and laptop screens Tablets LCD panels 1 i F-GHG EMISSIONS ARE EXPECTED TO GROW based on projected growth in consumer demand of LCD flat panel displays. Currently emissions are expected to grow by Over 2 MtCO,e* in 2015 = to the emissions from approximately 280,000 homes'electricity use. Over 7 MtC02e* in 2020 = to the emissions from approximately 1,000,000 homes'electricity use. ''Million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent While some suppliers are working to reduce their F-GHG emissions, more needs to be done. BRANDS, RETAILERS AND LARGE PURCHASERS HAVE THE POWER TO INFLUENCE REDUCTIONS IN F-GHG EMISSIONS by ensuring their products are made with flat panels from suppliers who are curbing emissions. See www.epa.gov/climateleadership/supplychain/sector.htmlto learn more £\ United States Environmental Protection hI Agency Draft Factsheet January 2015 ------- |