Increasingly strict regulations on fluorocarbons
Fluorocarbons, which are used as refrigerant in commercial refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, have a significant impact on global warming, and measures to combat this are being implemented internationally.
At the 28th Meeting of the Parties (MOP28) in 2016, a gradual reduction in the production and consumption of alternative fluorocarbons was mandated, requiring a reduction of 85% of the standard value and a switch to refrigerant with a smaller greenhouse effect.
In Japan, the Fluorocarbons Emissions Control Law came into effect in 2015, making inspections and management reports required by law for chillers and other air conditioning equipment.
Furthermore, the law was amended in 2020 to impose direct penalties on violations, increasing the management burden on users. As such, regulations surrounding fluorocarbons will continue to become stricter, and there is a need to promote HFC alternative fluorocarbon use in the manufacturing industry in order to realize a carbon-free society in Japan.
Japan's Schedule for Reduction of Alternative CFCs
*Reference value: Calculated from the average value of actual results from 2011 to 2013
Global efforts to regulate fluorocarbons
Global measures against fluorocarbons
- Ozone layer protection
-
- 1974年
- Elucidating the mechanism of ozone layer destruction caused by CFCs
- 1987年
- The Montreal Protocol is adopted
Restrictions on the production and consumption of chlorofluorocarbons and other substances that cause ozone layer destruction
CFC: Completely phased out by the end of 2009
HCFCs: Completely phased out in developed countries by 2020 and in developing countries by 2030
- Preventing global warming
-
- 1997年
- Kyoto Protocol adopted
Developed countries are required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
HFCs are included in the gases subject to emission reductions - 2015年
- Adoption of the Paris Agreement
An international framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions after 2020
Working in both developed and developing countries
The US withdrew from the agreement under the Trump administration, but rejoined under the Biden administration. - 2016年
- Kigali Amendment adopted
HFCs added to the list of substances covered by the Montreal Protocol
Restrictions on production and consumption of HFCs
HFC reductions based on the Kigali Amendment
The Kigali Amendment, adopted at the 28th Meeting of the Parties (MOP28) held in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, mandates a gradual reduction in the production and consumption of HFCs, similar to the restrictions on CFCs and HCFCs. (See below for the specific reduction schedule.)
Japan will begin reducing emissions in 2019 and must reduce emissions by 85% by 2036.
| Developed countries *1 | Developing countries Group 1 *2 | Developing countries Group 2 *3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| base year | 2011-2013 | 2020-2022年 | 2024-2026年 |
| Reference value (HFC+HCFC) |
Annual HFC production and consumption Average + HCFC standard value x 15% |
Annual HFC production and consumption Average + HCFC standard value x 65% |
Annual HFC production and consumption Average + HCFC standard value x 65% |
| frozen year | none | 2024年 | 2028 *4 |
| reduction schedule *5 |
2019:▲10% 2024:▲40% 2029:▲70% 2034:▲80% 2036:▲85% |
2029:▲10% 2035:▲30% 2040:▲50% 2045:▲80% |
2032:▲10% 2037:▲20% 2042:▲30% 2047:▲85% |
*1: Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, which are developed countries, will have different regulatory measures.
(The standard value will be set at 25% of the HCFC entry level, and the reduction schedule will be a 5% reduction in 2020 in the first stage and a 35% reduction in 2025 in the second stage.)
*2: Group 1 developing countries: Developing countries that do not belong to Group 2.
*3: Developing countries group 2: India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and the Gulf countries.
*4: For the second group of developing countries, a technical assessment will be conducted four to five years before the freeze year (2028), and consideration will be given to postponing the freeze year for two years.
*5: A technical assessment will be conducted for all Parties in 2022 and every five years thereafter.
European HFC Reduction Schedule
The F-gas regulation imposes annual limits on the amount of HFCs that can be sold on the European market.
HFC producers and importers must not sell more than the amount allocated to them each year by the European Commission, a quota system that began in 2015.
Plans are underway to further tighten restrictions on HFC supplies, and it is expected that the switch to HFC alternative refrigerant will continue.
European Fluorocarbon Alternative Reduction Schedule
Baseline value (100%) = average value from 2009 to 2012
*From the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's FY2015 commissioned research project report
