Government structures

The EFCTC has dismissed as “uninformed assertions” a paper which claims that the production of lower GWP refrigerant R32 could delay the recovery of the ozone layer.

The natural refrigerant association’s symposium in Schaffhausen, Switzerland focused on “Small Applications <200 kW with Natural Refrigerants”.

The Spanish refrigeration association AEFYT has lodged a complaint with the European Commission claiming that its Government’s tax on HFCs infringes free market principles.

European Union (EU) environment ministers will meet this week to discuss global developments on climate change and EU implementation of the Paris Agreement, together with Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete.

Access to finance and changes to standards are required to facilitate the switch to low-GWP refrigerants, according to experts attending the 39th Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG39) of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, taking place in Bangkok, Thailand this week.

The group of the world’s 20 biggest economies also pushed forward with their plans to phase-down HFCs.

Leaders of the G20 richest nations agreed to disagree on climate change, unanimously supporting a final communiqué in which all of them except U.S. President Donald Trump declare the Paris climate agreement to be “irreversible” and needing action “swiftly.”

The U.S. decision to pull out of the Paris climate agreement means Turkey is less inclined to ratify the deal because the U.S. move jeopardizes compensation promised to developing countries, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday.

The French government looks set to follow fellow European member Spain in imposing taxes on HFC refrigerants.

The European Parliament today ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on phasing down HFCs used in HVAC&R applications.

As the UK’s leading refrigeration wholesalers announce another round of HFC price increases, a major supplier implores the industry to stop using R404A in new equipment.

The healing of the ozone layer could be delayed by the use of this HFC, researchers from Lancaster University in the UK have found.

The European Council adopted a set of conclusions, where it, inter alia, “strongly reaffirms” the commitment of the European Union (EU) and its Member States to “swiftly and fully” implement the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Meeting for the 12th Metropolis World Congress and the 37th General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors (l’Association Internationale des Maires Francophones or AIMF), almost 140 mayors of the world’s largest cities issued a ‘Montréal Declaration: Cities in the Vanguard to Address Local and Global Issues and Implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.’

Despite differing opinions, the industry is working toward the same goal

Heads of the EU Member States, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission have strongly reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to swiftly and fully implement the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The Climate & Clean Air Coalition’s HFC Initiative still has over US $200,000 left to fund capacity-building activities.

The effective date of the Obama administration’s amendments to the Risk Management Program is postponed to allow the EPA to consider industry objections.

The Australian government has successfully passed legislation to phase-down HFCs beginning next year and reaching an 85% reduction by 2036.

Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt announced that the United States stands firm on its decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and has reset the conversation about climate change reflective of the new priorities of the Trump Administration and the expectations of the American people.