Environmental
Global deal to speed up R-134a phase out
By R744.com
Sep 24, 2007, 12:59

From: R744.com

Belgium — 2007-09-24 — In a historic agreement, both industrialized and developing countries agreed to phase out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) 10 years ahead of the previous target date, and freeze production as from 2009 on. Under the agreed timeline the final phase-out of HCFC will take place in developing countries by 2030, and in developed nations by 2020. Interim targets for the maximum production of HCFCs will ensure that these targets will be met in time. At present, HCFC is used in home appliances, refrigerators, and air conditioners, among others.

Limiting ozone depletion... and global warming
Meeting in Montreal, Canada, on occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, all 191 member parties unanimously decided for an earlier ban of HCFCs not only to reduce ozone depletion but also as a means to fight global warming. In the last decade, the Montreal Protocol has supported the targets of the Kyoto Protocol that seeks to reduce global warming refrigerants, such as HFCs.

"Governments had a golden opportunity to deal with the twin challenges of climate change and protecting the ozone layer, and governments took it," Armin Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, welcomed the agreement.

International bodies call for use of natural refrigerants
Didier Coulomb from the International Institute of Refrigeration told delegates at the Montreal meeting that environmentally friendly refrigerants are already available to replace ozone-depleting and global warming substances. Especially carbon dioxide would make "inroads in some parts of the world".

Meanwhile, the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) called on all countries under the Montreal Protocol to directly replace HCFC refrigeration units by natural refrigerants, such as CO2. An early adoption of natural fluids would be "both technically and economically feasible", the UBA states in its latest press release.

A recent UN report had estimated that the atmosphere could be spared the equivalent of 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions if countries used ozone-friendly refrigerants, such as CO2, rather than continuing with HCFCs and HFCs. The natural refrigerant CO2 (R744) is neither ozone-depleting nor contributing significantly to climate change, having a Global Warming Potential of only 1.

Background
The 19th meeting of the parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer took place in Montreal, Canada, from 17-21 September. More than 900 participants representing governments, UN agencies, NGOs, academia, and industry met to negotiate a new deal in line with the original Protocol signed in 1987.

More information:
› UNEP website - Montreal Protocol
UBA Press Release, 14 September 2007 (76 KB)