What Will the New UN Messenger of Peace Discuss at Next Week’s Climate Summit?—Leonardo DiCaprio and New Research Published in Nature

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In anticipation for the annual ministerial meeting of the United Nation's General Assembly, to be held next Tuesday Sept. 23, news worldwide has turned to the global climate issues and an atmosphere of change. With the announcement breaking ground just this morning that world-renowned actor Leonardo DiCaprio will join the Climate Summit being held in conjunction with the annual meeting as the United Nations' newest Messenger of Peace, much has been speculated as to what the actor will be discussing. But with the announcement of DiCaprio's place at the podium, news too has come on the research front that is hoping to illuminate misconceptions in global data regarding atmospheric radicals responsible for major changes to the climate.

Investigating the atmospheric concentrations of a key molecule responsible for aiding in the removal of air-borne pollutants, 27 international researchers collaborated on a report published this past week in the newest issue of the journal Nature. Revealing that concentrations of the hydroxyl radical have been far overestimated in recent studies, the researchers took a top-down approach in redefining estimates and the effects that incorrect estimates could have on current emission models in place at the moment.

"The hydroxyl radical (OH) is a key oxidant involved in the removal of pollutants and greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere" lead author of the paper published in the journal Nature, Prabir Patra said. "The ratio of Northern Hemispheric to Southern Hemispheric (NH/SH) OH concentration is important for our understanding of emission estimates of atmospheric [pollutants] such as nitrogen oxides and methane."

Utilizing a three-dimensional chemistry-transport model that has been highly validated for estimates within interhemishperic transport of molecules, the researchers were able to determine that current emission estimates may be largely overestimated.

While greenhouse gases are merely only a single component to be considered in the fight against global climate change, the new research reveals a method for better calibrating current models and adjusting methods of intervention. Though we will have to wait until next Tuesday to hear the final word from DiCaprio's speech at the Climate Summit for the United Nations, in a press release this morning he discussed his intentions and his gratitude for being appointed the new position as U.N. Messenger of Peace.

"I feel a moral obligation to speak out at this key moment in human history-it is a moment for action" DiCaprio said. "How we respond to the climate crisis in the coming years will likely determine the fate of humanity and our planet."