A new research paper by a respected climate change scientist points to the fact that a specialised synthetic chemical used in the manufacturing of flat-screen tvs and notebooks could be a large contributer to greenhouse gas emmissions. Professor Michael Prather of the University of California states in his paper that the gas - Nitrogen trifluoride , is 17,000 times more destructive as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

In his Geophysical Research Letters Vol 35, Dr Prather writes that Nitrogen trifluoride "CO₂, NF₃ has a potential greenhouse impact larger than that of the industrialized nations' emissions of PFCs (perflourocarbons) or SF₆ (sulfur hexaflouride), or even that of the world's largest coal-fired power plants."

Nitrogen trifluoride is not included in the 6 gases voered by the Kyoto Protocol because it was not in wide use back in 1997 when the protocol was agreed to. With new factories being built across the world to meet global demand as developed nations increasingly adopt flat screen technology, the monitoring of Nitrogen trifluoride will become more relevant when tackling climate change.

Originally developed as a rocket fuel and later used in chemical lasers for the "Star Wars" missile defence system, production of the gas has only moved to large scale production beyond these niche markets in the last decade. 4000 tonnes is predicted to be made in 2008 - the greenhouse gas equivalent of 67million tonnes of CO2.

Apparently reports from the chemical industry report that only 2% of the gas is released into the atmosphere although recent studies show that this figure could be higher.

There must be an alternative to using the gas because Toshiba has already stated that it is going to avoid using the gas. I agree with Prof Prather that the next round of climate change negotiations needs to include this, and other newly adopted chemicals that have an affect on climate change, on the list of reportable chemicals.

I also think it would be great for companies such as Toshiba who are taking the lead to start labelling their TVs as "Nitrogen trifluoride Free" just as the "CFC Free" labelling is so prevalent now. This would bring other manufacturers into line and give consumers the ability to select a TV that has been produced without using this chemical which has only recently been brought to the attention of the general public.