US EPA proposes schedule for major HFC reduction plan
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed implementing a 40 per cent reduction in the amount of HFCs allowed on the market from 2024.
Under the phasedown proposals, a 40 per cent cut in allowances for the production and consumption of HFCs would be introduced in just over a year’s time. This would be followed by further successive cuts to come into effect from 2029, 2034 and then 2036.
Plans for the phasedown have been published following the US Senate’s decision to ratify the Kigali Amendment in September. The commitments are expected to help drive the HVACR industry and other sectors to ramp up production of more sustainable systems and technologies.
The phasedown targets have been introduced based on corrected data submitted to the EPA. They will also focus on the importance of effective record keeping and ongoing reporting to ensure the environmental aims of the HFC phasedown are met, the EPA said.
These revised targets have used a similar methodology to those behind plans to introduce a 10 per cent phasedown of HFCs up to 2023.
The US Government has committed via its American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act to reduce the production and consumption of HFCs by 85 per cent of baseline levels from 2036.
A ‘robust’ enforcement programme has now been introduced to ensure the new targets are being met and that illegal HFCs are not entering the market, the EPA said in statement.
Further amendments to the AIM Act are expected to be introduced by the EPA with a focus on transitioning the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors way from using HFCs. These sectors are currently the largest user of HFC products in the US, according to the EPA.