Hydrofluorocarbon
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are synthetic organic compounds that contain fluorine and hydrogen atoms, and are the most common type of
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) which are presently being phased out.[1] HFCs replaced older chlorofluorocarbons such as R-12 and hydrochlorofluorocarbons such as R-21.[2]
HFCs are also used in insulating foams, aerosol propellants, as solvents and for fire protection.
They may not harm the ozone layer as much as the compounds they replace, but they still contribute to
global warming --- with some like trifluoromethane having 11,700 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide.[3] Their atmospheric concentrations and contribution to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are rapidly increasing[quantify], causing international concern about their radiative forcing
.
Chemistry
Fluorocarbons with few
trifluoromethyl
group.
Environmental regulation
Unlike other greenhouse gases in the Paris Agreement, hydrofluorocarbons are included in other international negotiations.[5]
In September 2016, the
climate change, negotiators from 197 nations meeting at a summit of the United Nations Environment Programme in Kigali, Rwanda reached a legally-binding accord (the Kigali Amendment) to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in an amendment to the Montreal Protocol.[7][8][9] As of February 2020, 16 U.S. states ban or are phasing down HFCs.[10]
COVID-19 relief legislation, which included a measure that would require chemical manufacturers to phase down the production and use of HFCs, was passed by the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate on December 21, 2020.[11] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed a final rule phasing down HFCs on 23 September, 2021.[12]
See also
- Greenhouse gas § Sources - comparative chart
References
- ^ Zaelke, Durwood; Borgford-Parnell, Nathan; Andersen., Stephen (11 January 2018). "Primer on HFCs" (PDF). Kristin Campbell, Xiaopu Sun, Dennis Clare,Claire Phillips, Stela Herschmann, Yuzhe PengLing, Alex Milgroom, Nancy J. Sherman. Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD): 5.
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(help) - ^ Milman, Oliver (22 September 2016). "100 countries push to phase out potentially disastrous greenhouse gas". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- .
- ^ Davenport, Carol (23 July 2016). "A Sequel to the Paris Climate Accord Takes Shape in Vienna". New York Times. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ "The New York Declaration of the Coalition to Secure an Ambitious HFC Amendment". Washington, DC: US Department of State. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ^ Johnston, Chris; Milman, Oliver; Vidal, John (15 October 2016). "Climate change: global deal reached to limit use of hydrofluorocarbons". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
- ^ "Climate change: 'Monumental' deal to cut HFCs, fastest growing greenhouse gases". BBC News. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
- ^ "Nations, Fighting Powerful Refrigerant That Warms Planet, Reach Landmark Deal". New York Times. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
- ^ Baker Administration Planning Rule To Ban Hydrofluorocarbons
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
- ^ Volcovici, Valerie (2021-09-23). "Biden administration takes aim at climate warming gas". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2021-09-23.