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HCFCsNews

This section presents news and HCFC-22 molecule
current information related to HCFCs,
drawn from diverse sources woldwide.

Let us know if you have any additional news articles, press releases and other media reports about HCFCs - including the source and the url - that we can add to the list.

This compilation would serve as an archive for future reference. Please send any suggestions to sdegobert@unep.fr

Thank you!

 

GLOBAL
> First Ozone Prosecution in New Zealand
The New Zealand Herald, Jun 19, 2008
> Nineteenth MOP HCFC Adjustments to Enter into Force May 2008
The United Nations Secretary-General in his capacity as depositary of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer has advised all Parties to the Protocol that the adjustments to the Montreal Protocol adopted at the Nineteenth Meeting of the Parties held in Montreal from 17 to 21 September 2007, will enter into force and become binding to all Parties on 14 May 2008, pursuant to article 2 (9) of the Protocol. The adjustments relate to Decision XIX/6 of the Parties on accelerated phase out of Annex C, Group I, controlled substances (hydrochlorofluorocarbons). The following links contains the official copies of the English and French versions of the depositary notification: http://untreaty.un.org/English/CNs/2007/1001_1100/1096E.pdf and http://untreaty.un.org/English/CNs/2007/1001_1100/1096F.pdf
Attached to the notification, are copies of the adjustments to the Protocol in the six UN official languages as circulated to all Parties by the depositary.
Contact: Gilbert Bankobeza, Gilbert.Bankobeza@unep.org
Source: UNEP Ozone Secretariat, http://ozone.unep.org/Ratification_status/hcfc_adjuctments_entry_to_force_notice.shtml

> Attenuation of Fluorocarbons Released from Foam Insulation in Landfills
Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 41, No. 22, 2007
> Answer to Hot Air Was in Fact a Chilling Blunder
SMH.com, Ben Cubby Environment Reporter, Dec 18, 2007
> Montreal Protocol's Success Offers Lessons for Climate Change Parties Continue Commitment to Maximize Ozone Regime's Climate Benefits
IGSD Press Release, BALI, INDONESIA, Nov 17, 2007
> Sweden and UNEP Team Up to Help Developing Countries Phase out of Ozone Depleting HCFCs
Newsdesk (pressmeddelande), Sweden - Nov 19, 2007
> The UN Secretary-General Welcomes Historic Agreement to Phaseout Hydrochlorofluorocarbons, Chemical Compound Damaging to Ozone Layer, Contributor to Climate Change
UN Department of Public Information, News and Media Division, New York,
24 September 2007

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement reached over the weekend by the signatories of the Montreal Protocol to sign up to an accelerated freeze and phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), the chemical compound which damages the ozone layer and also contributes to climate change.
The Secretary-General is especially pleased that this historic agreement was reached on the eve of the high-level event on climate change convened by him on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. He notes that international efforts to protect the ozone layer and to combat climate change are mutually supportive. He also notes that the agreement reached in Montreal includes a commitment to make sufficient funding available to implement the strategy of phasing out HCFCs. The Secretary-General hopes Member States will demonstrate the same urgency and boldness as they turn to the sources of greenhouse gases.
> Combating Climate Change Given Big Confidence Boost in Canada
United Nations Environment Programme, Environement Canada
Governments Agree to Accelerated 'Freeze and Phase-out" of Ozone and Climate-Damaging Chemicals at Montreal Protocol's 20th Anniversary Celebrations
Montreal/Nairobi, 22 September 2007 - An historic agreement to tackle the twin challenges of protecting the ozone layer and combating climate change has been agreed by governments.
Nations signed up to an accelerated freeze and phase out of substances known as hydrochlorflurocarbons (HCFCs) under the 20 year-old Montreal Protocol- the UNEP treaty established in 1987 to protect the Earth's ozone layer from chemical attack.
 
AFRICA
> Pressures Affecting the Climate and Atmosphere
National State of the Environment Report - South Africa
 
NORTH AMERICA
> Industry Cautions against Illegal Import of HCFCs
The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy today cautioned industry and the public to be certain that their hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerant purchases are legal, and to refuse to buy illegally imported refrigerants. The warning came as reports are beginning to surface that illegal HCFC imports may be on the rise, in light of apparent demand for the product to service air conditioning equipment.
> Environmental Benefits of the New, Stronger HCFC Phaseout Agreement US EPA, October 2007
The agreement to adjust the phase-out schedule for HCFCs is expected to reduce emissions of HCFCs to the atmosphere by 47 percent, compared to the prior commitments under the treaty over the 30-year period of 2010 to 2040. For the developing countries, the agreement means there will be about a 58 percent reduction in HCFCs emission over the 30 year period.View a graph showing the HCFC reductions in developing countries, reflecting the agreement at the 19th Meeting in Montreal.The climate benefits of the stronger HCFC agreement will depend on technology choices of the transition from HCFCs during the 30 year time frame of the HCFC phase out. The estimated climate benefit of the new, stronger HCFC phase out may be as much as 9,000 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO 2-eq), or the equivalent of removing the climate emissions from 70 million U.S. passenger cars each year, for the next 30 years. This means the new, stronger HCFC agreement is equivalent to eliminating the climate emissions from 50 percent of all U.S. passenger cars each year, for the next 30 years.Another way of explaining the climate benefit of the new, stronger HCFC phaseout agreement is to say it is equivalent to eliminating the climate emissions from the electricity needed by 40 million U.S. households each year, for the next 30 years, which would be eliminating the climate emissions from the electricity needed by 40 percent of U.S. households each year, for the next 30 years.
Read analyses of climate benefits of the overall HCFC agreement at the 19th Meeting in Montreal
.Read analyses of ozone and climate benefits of the U.S. proposal (PDF).
Read Comparison of the Montreal Protocol and United States Phaseout Schedules.
> Ten Steps to a Green Supply Chain
Electronics Supply & Manufacturing - Oct 30, 2007
 
LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN
 
> Argentina and Brazil Propose HCFC Phaseout
Temas Actuales - Mar 20, 2007
 
SOUTH ASIA
 
> Sun Rrises on China's Fluorochemicals
(Chemical Business NewsBase (Composite)-, Nov 16, 2007
> Breakthrough Air Conditioning Technology Completely Eliminates the Use of Hazardous CFCs and HCFCs
jrj.com, China - Nov 15, 2007
> UNEP Organizes Meeting OF ODS Officers in Bali
Antara, Indonesia - Nov 11, 2007

> Indonesia toBan CFC Use in Manufacturing Process Starting July 2008
Antara, Indonesia - Nov 11, 2007

> HFCs at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
International Institute of Refrigeration
To avoid the use of HCFCs, which are Ozone Depleting Substances, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad (BOCOG) has announced that most venue owners have chosen refrigerants ranging from HFC-134a, R-410a, and R-407c to lithium bromide. China’s State Environmental Protection Administration and UNEP in co-operation with the BOCOG – are addressing stratospheric ozone protection as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. BOCOG has issued environmental guidelines to prevent unnecessary use of ODS in construction, marketing and catering services. 2008 is the year chosen for China’s accelerated phase out of CFCs, in advance of the 2010 deadline required by the Montreal Protocol.
> Refex Refrigerants Gets Special Import License from DGFT
Press Trust of India, Oct 30, 2007
 
EUROPE
 
> Replacing HCFC in Aerospace Applications
Manufacturing Talk, UK - Nov 12, 2007
> Materials Scare at Lanarkshire Site
Contract Journal, UK - Oct 31, 2007
> Pollution Fears Halt Demolition
BBC News, UK - Oct 25, 2007
> The GEANT CASINO Hypermarket Branch of CASINO Group Chooses Arkema's Forane 427A
Chemical Business NewsBase (Composite), Oct 22, 2007
> A French decree issued on May 7, 2007 regulates the marketing, use, recovery and destruction conditions of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) in refrigeration or air-conditioning units
Journal Officiel de la République Française, May 8, 2007
The decree implements recent European F-gas Regulation on refrigerants. It applies to refrigeration and air conditioning, automobile air-conditioning systems and heat pumps, whatever their refrigerant charges, contrary to the previous 1992 decree which did not apply to charges under 2 kg.
According to the decree, actions such as refrigerant charging, commissioning and maintenance of equipment, tightness checks, refrigerant recovery, or any other operation relative to refrigerants should be performed by staff who have been certified by authorized organizations.
It is also specified that tightness checks should be regularly performed for all equipment with a charge over 2 kg and that refrigerant distributors should provide their clients with appropriate containers for used refrigerant recovery and to handle the refrigerants returned to them in these containers free of charge.
 
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Disclaimer - The views expressed in articles are solely the viewpoints of their authors and do not represent the policy or viewpoint of UNEP. While UNEP strives to avoid inclusion of misleading or inaccurate information, it is ultimately the responsibility of the reader to evaluate the accuracy of any linked news article.
The citing of commercial technologies, products or services does not constitute endorsement of those items by UNEP.

  
© UNEP DTIE 2007 | updated 1-jul-08