Daikin's Policy on the Environmental Impact of the Refrigerant
Reasons that Daikin Addresses the Environmental Impact of Refrigerants

Reasons that Daikin Addresses the Environmental Impact of Refrigerants

Q. Why does Daikin do that?

A. Addressing the environmental impact of refrigerants is essential for Daikin as a manufacturer of both equipment and refrigerants.

Air conditioners make people's lives more comfortable and productive, but we cannot overlook their contribution to climate change through hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants and energy consumption. Global warming is expected to become a growing problem especially in the economically emerging countries where air conditioner demand is on the rise.

We believe that one of the effective means of reducing the Earth's overall global warming is to spread the use of energy-efficient air conditioners that use refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP), thus Daikin is proactively engaged in reducing the environmental impact of refrigerants.

GWP-Weighted Emissions

Notes

1.: To prevent further global temperature rises, CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere must be stabilized at 450 to 550 ppm or lower (depending on the targets for individual policies).
2.: The red line shows the expectation GWP-weighted emissions will decrease if environmentally beneficial refrigerants are selected for particular applications. The red line has been added by Daikin Industries, Ltd.

HFC consumption for 2000-2050 in developing (A5) and developed (non-A5) countries as BAU scenario

Source:: PNAS Report "The Large Contribution of Projected HFC Emissions to Future Climate Forcing" by Guus J.M. Velders et. al.

International Refrigerant Policy Development - Ozone-Layer Depletion and Global Warming -

In 1987, the Montreal Protocol was adopted for the purpose of restricting the production, consumption and trade of particular substances in order to protect the ozone layer. CFCs, which had been used as refrigerants for air conditioning equipment, were completely abandoned. Furthermore, under the Montreal Protocol, HCFCs (alternative to CFCs) will be phased out almost entirely by 2020 in non-A5^* countries and by 2030 in A5^* countries.

HFCs have been used as alternative to HCFCs because of zero ODP value, however the GWP of HFCs had been considered to be a problem. With regards to GWP, in October 2016, the Montreal Protocol parties agreed to phase down HFCs in CO₂ equivalent under the Kigali Amendment. The Kigali Amendment entered into force in January 2019.

*: Emerging countries are categorized as operating under Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol (Referred to as "Article 5 countries"). However, any country that was a non-Article 5 country in the original draft and later changed is excluded.

HCFC Phase Out and HFC Phase Down Schedule in Montreal Protocol

*1: During 2020-2030, allowance of 0.5% of HCFCs for servicing air conditioning or refrigeration equipment
*2: During 2030-2040, allowance of 2.5% average of HCFCs for servicing air conditioning or refrigeration equipment.

See more about the Kigali Amendment http://ozone.unep.org/ (UN Environment)

Daikin's Position on the Kigali Amendment (HFC Phase Down in CO₂ Equivalent)

Daikin welcomes the Kigali Agreement for an HFC phase down in CO₂ equivalent under the Montreal Protocol. To mitigate future global climate change, it is important to take a "Sooner, the Better" approach. Based on this idea, we will achieve this target by not only refrigerant conversion, but also by conducting comprehensive measures such as reducing refrigerant charge volume, reducing refrigerant leakage and promoting recovery/recycle of refrigerants.

Daikin has released its position on Kigali Agreement for HFC phase down (84KB)