Fluorinated gases (F-gases) are a family of
man-made gases used in a range of industrial applications. Because they do not
damage the atmospheric ozone layer, they are often used as substitutes for
ozone-depleting substances. However, F-gases are powerful greenhouse gases,
with a global warming effect up to 23 000 times greater than carbon dioxide
(CO2), and their emissions are rising strongly.
Where
F-gases are used
F-gases are used in several types of products and appliances,
mainly as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances such as
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and halons which
are being phased out under the Montreal Protocol
- · The three groups of F-gases are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)
- · F-gases can remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years
- · Equipment and appliances containing F-gases can have long lifetimes of up to 50 years
- · Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are the most common group of F-gases. They are used in various sectors and applications, such as refrigerants in refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump equipment; as blowing agents for foams; as solvents; and in fire extinguishers and aerosols.
- · Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are typically used in the electronics sector (for example for plasma cleaning of silicon wafers) as well as in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. In the past PFCs were also used in fire extinguishers and can still be found in older fire protection systems.
- · Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is used mainly as an insulating gas, in high voltage switchgear and in the production of magnesium and aluminium.
- · Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) is used in the plasma etching of silicon wafers.Today nitrogen trifluoride is predominantly employed in the cleaning of the PECVD chambers in the high volume production of liquid crystal displays and silicon-based thin film solar cells.
*********************************************************************************\
Of late, there has been increased political
momentum to shift the HFC discussions from United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to the Montreal Protocol.
Why
only HFCs?
- HFCs
are part of the larger family of fluorinated gases, called F-gases that
cause global warming. F-gases include HFCs, perfluorocarbons, sulfur
hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
- They
all are potent greenhouse gases, and are under the Kyoto Protocol’s basket
of gases.
- Similar
to HFCs, some of them are also replacements for ozone-depleting
substances.
- Compared
to the global warming potential (GWP) of HFCs, which ranges from
140-11,700, the GWP of PFCs range from 6500-9200; for SF6 it is 3200 and
NF3 has a GWP of 17200.
Like the air conditioner and refrigerator sectors are predicted to
grow in future, NF3 used in electronics, including solar photovoltaic cells, is
expected to grow significantly as well. An approach that addresses only HFCs
and overlooks the other super greenhouse gases is a piecemeal solution and,
therefore, the question is: whether Montreal Protocol will address all F-gases
and how?
**********************************************************************************************************************************
Politics of transition
- From
CFCs, the world moved to HCFCs. Then, from HCFCs to HFCs. And, now there
is discussion on phasing-out HFCs with other alternatives. We have moved
from one harmful chemical to the next. But why should we be surprised? This has been a game of making money by businesses from
both developed and developing countries.
Developed country industry held patents for the
harmful technology options and made money selling these chemicals as well as by
transferring technologies to the developing countries. Developing
country industry in turn earned money out of moving from CFCs to HCFCs.
- They also made huge money by destroying HFC-23, a super
greenhouse gas produced as by-product of HCFC-22. This, they did under UNFCCC’s clean development
mechanism by selling carbon credits.
Now, the developed world has already moved to
HFCs, and developing world is gradually moving to HFCs. The phase-out of HFCs
is being discussed. And the issues of market, technology and patents are back
on the table.
But the Montreal Protocol with its powerful leverage of
trade—countries which do not agree and do not comply cannot sell products—is
clearly the mechanism of choice. This time though, the choice has to be right.
There are many trade-offs that need to be considered before technology options
are finalised. Commercial interests driving the agenda cannot be the way ahead. All substances other than the unpatented hydrocarbons are in
the hands of powerful companies.
Issues of the developing countires !
Developing countries are right in asking
questions on issues of patents and technology payments before they make the
transition. The way ahead cannot—and must not—make space to transition several
times. It’s time for a one-time
transition; we cannot allow the
chemical treadmill to continue.
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Role
of developed nations
- Industrialised
countries need to fix their own backyard.
- The
HFC phase-out schedule for the industrialised countries under the US and
Micronesia proposal, or for that matter the proposed F-gas regulations of
the EU, are just not sufficient.
- If
developing countries are to leapfrog, then the rich world, already emitting
HFCs, cannot keep using it for the next 20-25 years.
- Clearly,
a much more strict phase-out schedule for the industrialised countries
will have to be agreed to.
 |
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Primary
focus must be on carbon dioxide
- There is an aggressive push by the Northern countries to
address Short-lived climate forcers (SLCF) like
methane, black carbon and HFCs.
- Most of the actions on
SLCF will happen in the developing world.
- While SLCF need to be addressed,
it is quite clear that only taking action on SLCF will not solve the
climate problem.
- Therefore, any action or debate on
SLCF including HFCs should not take the focus away from steps that have to
be urgently taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
- Developed countries cannot shift
the burden of mitigation on developing countries.
- They must take aggressive actions
to reduce emissions at home.
**********************************************************************************************************************************
Additional Reading !!
Recent news !!
The
global community is to sign a new compact on climate change by 2015,India
opposes it !! why ? read below !
- India has opposed proposals to sign a piecemeal global climate treaty with greenhouse gas reduction targets being
decided first in 2015 and decisions on technology and finance adaptation
being segregated and postponed for later years.
- The global community is to sign a
new compact on climate change under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by 2015. The negotiations for this
deal have been on since 2011 and are beginning to heat up with the next
big meeting — referred to as the Conference of Parties (COP), slated for
this November in Warsaw, Poland.
- Perceiving that the
developed countries have through the year been pushing at a piecemeal
approach to the global deal, India has put in a submission to the UNFCCC,
advocating that all
elements of the deal — mitigation, adaptation, technology and finance —
should be addressed at the same time as part of a balanced package.
