PartagerUNEP report on HFCs: key findings
During the United Nations COP9/MOP23 Conference of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol which took place in Bali, Indonesia, on November 21-25, 2011, the IIR participated in a side-event presenting a new report "HFCs: A Critical Link in Protecting Climate and the Ozone Layer" prepared by UNEP with the co-operation of the IIR as a reviewer.
During the United Nations COP9/MOP23 Conference of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol which took place in Bali, Indonesia, on November 21-25, 2011, the IIR participated in a side-event presenting a new report "HFCs: A Critical Link in Protecting Climate and the Ozone Layer" prepared by UNEP with the co-operation of the IIR as a reviewer.
The key findings of this report are:
. The current contribution of HFCs to direct climate forcing is less than 1% of all other greenhouse gases; however, the abundance of HFCs in the atmosphere is rapidly increasing as a result of their use as ozone-depleting substance (CFC and HCFC) replacements; for example, HFC-134a, the most abundant HFC, has increased by 10% per year from 2006 to 2010. If HFC emissions continue to increase, they are likely to have a noticeable influence on the climate system; their radiative forcing is predicted by the authors to be 7-12% of the CO2 values in 2050.
. However, the future radiative forcing by HFCs in 2050 would be less than the current forcing (less than 1% of total forcing) if the current mix of HFCs used – with an average lifetime of 15 years and an average GWP of 1600 – were replaced by zero- or low-GWP substances – with lifetimes less than 1 month and GWPs less than about 20.
The key findings of this report are:
. The current contribution of HFCs to direct climate forcing is less than 1% of all other greenhouse gases; however, the abundance of HFCs in the atmosphere is rapidly increasing as a result of their use as ozone-depleting substance (CFC and HCFC) replacements; for example, HFC-134a, the most abundant HFC, has increased by 10% per year from 2006 to 2010. If HFC emissions continue to increase, they are likely to have a noticeable influence on the climate system; their radiative forcing is predicted by the authors to be 7-12% of the CO2 values in 2050.
. However, the future radiative forcing by HFCs in 2050 would be less than the current forcing (less than 1% of total forcing) if the current mix of HFCs used – with an average lifetime of 15 years and an average GWP of 1600 – were replaced by zero- or low-GWP substances – with lifetimes less than 1 month and GWPs less than about 20.