The EU HFC phase-down
Fluorinated gases, or F-gases, are a range of greenhouse gases widely used in refrigeration and air-conditioning, most notably hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). They are governed in the European Union by the F-Gas Regulation. We campaigned extensively against industry lobbying to ensure a robust and ambitious revision of the Regulation and are now advocating its swift, effective implementation. The revised EU F-gas Regulation, in force from March 2024, mandates the world’s first phase-out of HFCs.
The problem
Making the EU F-Gas Regulation a success is a key priority for EU countries. It ensures compliance with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, supports international climate commitments on greenhouse gases and leads the global transition to climate-friendly F-gas-free technologies.
The Regulation stipulates a stepwise decrease in HFC use to zero by 2050. The revised regulation also includes a number of new product bans for F-gases in cooling equipment and heat pumps to ensure that sectors shift to viable and affordable climate-friendly alternative technologies.
- (68,000+) EU supermarkets are using natural refrigerant carbon dioxide in 2023 (up from 140 in 2008)
- (500 million) – the additional CO2-equivalent emissions that the revised EU F-gas Regulation will eliminate by 2050
- (2050) – the target date for the EU’s HFC phase-out