Please Ban Super Greenhouse Gas Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF3)

Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF3) and other super greenhouse gases (gases that are at least 1000 times as powerful a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide (CO2)) present an existential threat not only to human survival but to most other plant and animal species.  NF3, which is used in the manufacture of computers, flat screen televisions, and solar panels, is estimated to be a mind-bending 17,200 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (CO2).  It doesn't take a math genius to be very alarmed. Worse, the use of NF3 is increasing by at least 8-11% annually.

NF3 and other super greenhouse gases are powerful enough arbiters of climate that individuals and organization interested in "terraforming" Mars are pursuing the possibility of introducing super greenhouse gases into the Martian atmosphere to turn that cold, dry world earthlike.  More likely, however, if releases of super greenhouse gases continues, and, as currently is the case even rapidly increases, our Earth may more closely resemble Venus or Mercury.

NF3 and the other super greenhouse gases may already have a had a hand in accelerating global warming more quickly than climate scientists had predicted.  In 2022 the EPA reported that NF3, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and other super greenhouse gases were responsible for an additional 3% of global warming., although that number might well be low given the discrepancies in the greenhouse gas inventories between the EPA and Climate Czar and the difficulty of detecting NF3 in the atmosphere.  In spite of that difficulty a study conducted by the University of California revealed that there are at least eight times as much NF3 in the atmosphere as had been predicted.  At the current rate of increase it is likely that the super greenhouse gases could surpass CO2's contribution to global warming by 2035.

There are non-greenhouse gas creating alternatives to NF3.  Linde Gas of Germany believes that Fluorine, which has no greenhouse effect, could replace NF3 and any substances capable of dissolving silicon also present a potential alternative.  Admiitedly, the alternatives to NF3 would be more expensive and complex, at least initially.  However, given the existential threat NF3 presents cost and the ease of its must use be sacrificed for the greater good, the very survival of mankind and life on earth itself. 

Currently NF3 is "controlled" only be a reporting requirement, although it is unclear if all NF3 producers and consumers have been compliant with even that requirement.  Please ban production, possession and use of NF3.  Please ban foreign imports that have used NF3 during their manufacture.  Please sponsor an international treaty that will ban NF3 worldwide.

R. Roy Blake
Author, NF3, SF6 and the Doomsday Super Greenhouse Gases