Explainer: hydrofluorocarbons saved the ozone layer, so why are we banning them?

HFCs are made of carbon, fluorine and hydrogen. They are exclusively synthetic, meaning they have no known natural sources. To understand why they came into existence requires a quick history lesson. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, another class of compounds called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were widely used. CFCs are very stable, which made them ideal for many practical uses, including in refrigeration, foam packaging, and even aerosol cans for hair spray.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer

The Montreal Protocol, finalized in 1987, is a global agreement to protect the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). The stratospheric ozone layer filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation, which is associated with an increased prevalence of skin cancer and cataracts, reduced agricultural productivity, and disruption of marine ecosystems. The United States ratified the Montreal Protocol in 1988 and has joined four subsequent amendments. The United States has been a leader within the Protocol throughout its existence, and has taken strong domestic action to phase out the production and consumption of ODS such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons.

Bad Hair Day: Are Aerosols Still Bad for the Ozone Layer?

Are the new propellant chemicals any better than the CFCs banned in the 1970s?

HFCs and other F-gases: The Worst Greenhouse Gases You’ve Never Heard Of

HFCs are man-made greenhouse gases developed by the chemical industry to replace CFCs, HFCs’ ozone-killing cousins, which were banned in 1992 by the Montreal Protocol. Unfortunately, despite their PR spin, HFCs are NOT an environmental alternative to anything. CFCs and HFCs are all part of a family of gases known as F-gases

How Bad Is Your Air-Conditioner for the Planet?

Is my air-conditioner causing global warming? It’s complicated. HFCs represent a small portion of total greenhouse gas emissions, but they trap thousands of times as much heat in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

Hydrofluorocarbon emissions up 54% with air conditioning on the rise

CFCs and HCFCs were used as refrigerants in air conditioning units and fridges, propellants in aerosol sprays, and fire suppressants in extinguishers. Scientists invented HFCs to take their place. HFCs don’t damage the ozone layer, but as with their predecessors, they are potent greenhouse gases – as much as several thousand times stronger at absorbing heat than carbon dioxide.

Main sources of fluorinated gas emissions

For a long time now human activities have been creating fluorinated gas emissions much more rapidly than the Earth can remove them, increasing global levels.

Not-In-Kind Alternatives to High Global Warming HFCS

R-717 (ammonia) is the preferred refrigerant for large systems in most markets. More than 90 percent of large industrial refrigeration installations use R-717 as a refrigerant due to its low capital cost for equipment and high energy efficiency.

Reducing HFCs in the US Would Benefit Consumers and the Climate

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are a small but rapidly growing component of U.S. (and global) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These gases, commonly used for cooling in appliances or as foam-blowing agents and aerosols, are potent greenhouse gases. Some HFCs can trap thousands of times more heat than carbon dioxide (CO2).

The EPA Just Banned the Chemicals That Helped Save the Ozone Layer

Chemicals in the HFC category have been used as a substitute for another class of chemicals, chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which were restricted as a result of the Montreal Protocol because they damage the ozone layer. While HFCs are ozone-friendly, they act as a greenhouse gas.

The Greenhouse Gases That Cool Your Fridge

The problem for the planet, critics argue, is that HFCs have 100 to 3,000 times as much global warming potential as carbon dioxide, and can remain in the atmosphere for long periods.

The importance of the Montreal Protocol in protecting climate

The 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a landmark agreement that has successfully reduced the global production, consumption, and emissions of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs).

Why a UN climate deal on HFCs matters

HFCs, like aviation and shipping, were omitted from the Paris Agreement, despite being a potent greenhouse gas. Countries have agreed to tackle them them through the Montreal Protocol instead — a UN treaty better known for tackling the hole in the ozone layer by phasing out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).