California Identified as Major Global Emitter of Potent Greenhouse Gas

Despite ambitious environmental policies, California leads in emissions of sulfuryl fluoride, a termite fumigation gas overlooked in climate efforts.

California is the leading emitter of sulfuryl fluoride in the U.S., contributing to 12% of global emissions of this potent greenhouse gas, primarily from termite fumigation.
Sulfuryl fluoride is found to be 4,800 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat, yet it has been overlooked in state emissions reduction efforts.
The majority of California's sulfuryl fluoride emissions come from Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties, with about 85% attributed to structural fumigation.
Despite California's aggressive greenhouse gas reduction policies, sulfuryl fluoride emissions have been accumulating for decades faster than they can naturally break down.
Environmental groups have raised concerns about the climate and health impacts of sulfuryl fluoride, but efforts to phase it out have been met with resistance.