Fluorinated Gases

• Author: Nathan Borgford-Parnell, Stephen Oliver Andersen, and Durwood Zaelke
• Pages: 902-915

Page 902 Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States

I. Introduction

e Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project (DDPP)

report addresses the most potent and prevalent uorinated

greenhouse gases (F-gases), namely hydrouorocarbons

(HFCs), peruorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexauoride

(SF6), and carbon tetrauoride (CF4). e DDPP calls for

a reduction in direct U.S. HFC and hydrochlorouorocar-

bon (HCFC) emissions of 96 million metric tons (MMT)

carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) by 2050, with 64

MMT from the refrigeration and air-conditioning sectors

and 32 MMT from foam, solvent, aerosol, and re pro-

tection uses, representing a 63% and 82% reduction from

reference scenario emissions, respec tively.1 Beyond these

emissions sectors, there are also opportunities to reduce

HFC emissions and emissions of HCFCs that are not yet

Authors’ Note: We thank Kristin Campbell for her valuable assistance

with this chapter

1. J H. W  ., P  D D  

U S, U.S. 2050 R, V 1: T R 52 tbl.

9 (Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project & Energy and Environmental

Economics, Inc., 2015), available at http://usddpp.org/downloads/2014-

technical-report.pdf.

phased out from production and consumption under the

Montreal Proto col.2 In addition, there are opportunities

to reduce emissions of chlorouorocarbons (CFCs) and

other ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) that are phased

out from production but continue to be emitted from old

equipment and thermal insulating foam unless recovered

and destroyed. (e Montreal Protocol, which does not

require the recovery and destruc tion of these substances, is

described more fully in Section III.)

e DDPP also calls for drastic ally reduced CO2 emis-

sions from all build ing and appl iance appl ications, includ-

ing through improvements in energy eciency, but does

not account for the signicant opportunity to catalyze

improvements in energy eciency of refrigeration and

air-conditioning equipment and insulating foams where

HCFCs and HFCs are currently utilized.3 e carbon

equivalent footprint for refrigerant emissions depends on

more than the global warming potential (GWP) of the

2. Montreal Protocol on Substances at Deplete the Ozone Layer, Sept.

16, 1987, S. Treaty Doc. No. 100-10, 1522 U.N.T.S. 3 [hereinafter

Montreal Protocol].

3. Guus J.M. Velders et al., Preserving Montreal Protocol Climate Benets by

Limiting HFCs, 335(6071) S 922, 923 (2012).

Chapter 34

Fluorinated Gases

by Nathan Borgford-Parnell, Stephen Oliver Andersen, and Durwood Zaelke

Summary

is chapter covers uorinated greenhouse gases, namely hydrouorocarbons (HFCs). e Deep Decarboniza-

tion Pathways Project reports seek to reduce HFC and hydrochlorouorocarbon (HCFC) emissions in the United

States by 96 million metric tons (MMT) CO2 equivalent (CO2eq) by 2050. HFCs replaced chlorouorocarbons

(CFCs) and HCFCs that have been phased out under the Montreal Protocol on Substances at Deplete the

Ozone Layer because they were depleting the stratospheric ozone layer. Due largely to their use as substitutes

for CFCs and HCFCs, HFCs are the fastest growing greenhouse gases in the United States, growing from 0.3

MMT CO2eq in 1990 to 149.4 MMT CO2eq in 2010. EPA, many states, and businesses have already begun

acting to speed the phasedown of HFCs in the United States. ere are a number of legal pathways at the federal,

state, and local levels that would further reduce emissions of HFCs and speed markets to a safe transition to

environmentally friendly alternatives. Additional climate benets can be realized by simultaneously improving

the energy eciency of equipment during the transition away from high-global warming potential refrigerants.