replacing HFCs with natural refrigerants worldwide today

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Using the momentum around the ozone treaty meeting in Egypt this week, THENATURALVOICE side event aimed at explaining to policy makers that the refrigeration, heating and cooling industry using natural refrigerants has a role to play in the fight against climate change.

At a side event organized at the 21s meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Port Ghalib, Egypt, THENATURALVOICE presented the campaign to the participants.

Since 1987, the ozone treaty has put in place a very effective system for an HCFC ban. Discussions are focusing now on the ideal replacements to avoid the uptake of other climate unfriendly substances by the refrigeration, heating and cooling industries in the coming years. In particular, Parties are envisaging measures to prevent high global warming potential (GWP) substances from being implemented. There is a particular relevance for developing countries that are now able to leapfrog unsustainable solutions for which no funding will be made available to divert from in the future and turn to the most sustainable ones .

THENATURALVOICE has called for policy and trade barriers to diminish in order to for natural refrigerants to become the ideal replacements in the post-HCFC era. The campaign underlined the unprecedented industry coalition with 58 signatories gathering actors from the entire supply chain which are all supportive of natural refrigerants. THENATURALVOICE reminded the high environmental credentials of natural refrigerants, their capacity to help reducing direct and indirect CO2 emissions and their suitability for all refrigeration, heating and cooling needs in developed and most importantly developing countries. THENATURALVOICE underlined the emergency to encourage the uptake of natural refrigerants when phasing out HCFCs by developing countries: these countries will not benefit from a new round of funding to replace high GWP substances hence why the door of opportunity is wide open for them now. THENATURALVOICE is particularly supportive of a technology transfer to the benefit of these countries.

THENATURALVOICE is conscious about the stakes the global refrigeration, heating and cooling industry is facing and has invited all interested parties to support the campaign. The campaign’s next stop will be the climate negotiations in Copenhagen in December.

NOTE

THENATURALVOICE is a global call for action supported by industry and research that points to the environmental, economic and social potential of natural refrigerants in heating, cooling & refrigeration. For more information about the campaign, please visit www.thenaturalvoice.org or by e-mail speakup@thenaturalvoice.org