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Air-conditioner Refrigerants and Their Environmental Impact
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International Regulations |
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Below are the restrictions under the Montreal Protocol, which deals with ozone layer protection, and the Kyoto Protocol, which deals with global warming. |
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Details of Restrictions on Ozone Layer Protection and Global Warming Prevention |
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The Montreal Protocol calls for the ceasing of manufacture of restricted substances, while the Kyoto Protocol calls for reductions in emissions of the restricted substances.
Although CFCs and HCFCs are strong global warming gases, they are not included in the Kyoto Protocol because their production has already been banned under the Montreal Protocol.
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Restricted content |
| Montreal Protocol |
Ban CFC production by the end of 1995
Limit HCFC production from 1996 at 100%
Reduce HCFC production from 2004 by 35% compared to 1996
Reduce HCFC production from 2010 by 65% compared to 1996
Reduce HCFC production from 2015 by 90% compared to 1996
Ban CFC production by 2020 (excluding 0.5% for maintenance purposes)
Ban all CFC production by 2030 |
| Kyoto Protocol |
Between 2008 and 2012, reduce average annual greenhouse gas emissions, converted to CO2 equivalents, against 1990 levels (1995 or 1990 for HFCs, PFCs, and SF6) by 6% (Japan), 7% (US), and 8% (Europe). |
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Effect on Global Warming of CFC Production Ban |
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The Montreal Protocol’s ban on CFC production is a great victory not only in the fight to protect the ozone layer but also to prevent global warming. |
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source:data from industrial structure council, ministry of economy, trade and industry
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Because CFCs have a global warming potential from three to 10 times greater than HCFCs and HFCs (depending on the type), CFCs were banned and HCFCs are being phased out to HFCs. The result is that in 2000, fluorocarbon shipments were just one-eighth 1990 levels in terms of CO2 equivelent tons (amount multiplied by GWP). |
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