BRIEF REVIEW OF POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS RELATING TO FLUOROCARBONS IN 2018

Everyone is busy at this time of year, so instead of a regular newsletter here is EFCTC’s selection of 7 positive developments relating to fluorocarbons during 2018:

• The confirmation by the 2018 WMO/UNEP Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion, that the ozone hole is beginning to close.
• The ratification of the Kigali Amendment by 60 Parties, preparations for its coming into effect in 2019 and according to the 2018 WMO/UNEP Scientific Assessment the avoidance of up to 0.4°C of global warming this century.
• The EEA Approximated EU GHG inventory: proxy GHG estimates for 2017 reported a small reduction (-0.8%) in emissions for products used as substitutes for ODS [mainly HFCs] for the EU plus Iceland.
• The widespread uptake of alternatives to HFC-410A, particularly HFC-32
• The drive to replace and avoid the use of R-404A with lower GWP non-flammable or mildly flammable HFC/HFO blend refrigerants.
• The increasing use of HFOs having very low GWPs (<10) for a wider range of applications including waste heat recovery for power generation.
• The Environmental Effects Assessment Panel presentation at the 30th MoP to the Montreal Protocol in November 2018 stating “Our previous assessments reported that future concentrations of TFA due to the expected use of ODS replacements do not pose a significant threat to human health or the environment. That assessment remains unchanged.”