Climate Change Prevention Programs

Programs that establish and enforce compliance with regulations that are designed to prevent or reduce harm from pollution to natural weather conditions including prevailing temperature, atmospheric composition and precipitation; and to the ozone layer which shields the earth from ultraviolet radiation and its harmful effects on living things. Included are regulations that limit emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gases which are thought to cause global increases in temperatures known as the "greenhouse effect"; those that limit emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide which are transformed to sulphuric and nitric acids when combined with water, producing acid rain; and those that limit or eliminate the use of compounds containing chlorofluorocarbons (used in refrigerators, aerosol sprays and many industrial cleaning products) or halons (used in fire extinguishers) which cause the depletion of stratospheric ozone when released into the atmosphere. These programs monitor compliance with regulations, investigate complaints regarding violations and, when warranted, initiate litigation against individuals and organizations who have failed to comply.