The authors say the effects of this greenhouse gas - known by the formula O3 - have been largely overlooked.
Ozone near the ground damages plants, reducing their ability to mop up carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
As a consequence, more CO2 will build up in the atmosphere instead of being taken up by the land.
This in turn will speed up climate change, say the Nature authors
There are uncertainties, Dr Cox admits; but he added: "Arguably, we have been looking in the wrong place for the key impacts of ozone."
"Their finding that the effect on CO2 is larger than the radiative forcing from ozone itself makes it a significant contribution to climate change."
clipped from: news.bbc.co.uk