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Last changed: 10/06/2009
The effects of climate change can be observed today throughout the world. Climate protection is therefore recognised to be one of the greatest environmental and economic challenges facing humanity. Due to their high Global Warming Potential (GWP) – 100 to 24,000 times higher than that of CO2 – fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) are covered by the Kyoto Protocol, the most important and prominent milestone in global climate protection.
While traditional greenhouse gases are mainly released as unwanted by-products, e. g. during the combustion of fossil fuels, most of the fluorinated greenhouse gases are deliberately produced and released. Today fluorinated greenhouse gases are used in much the same way as CFCs and halons – gases responsible for the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer – were used in the past.
Currently the main uses of fluorinated greenhouse gases are for sprays, as blowing agents in foams and insulation materials, as refrigerants in cooling and air conditioning units, and in fire extinguishers. Reducing the emissions of these substances therefore requires the use of substitutes or alternative technologies in addition to the implementation of technical measures.
On account of their high Global Warming Potential, the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases has been regulated by an EU Regulation and an EU Directive since May 2006. The European Commission issued additional Implementation Specifications (Regulations) in December 2007. Some uses of fluorinated greenhouse gases (e.g. in automobile tyres or aerosols) have been banned as per said regulations, whereas other applications are subject to technical regulations governing emissions reductions.
Transposition of the EU Regulations on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases into German national law took effect by resolution of the Ordinance on climate protection against changes caused by release of certain fluorinated greenhouse gases (Chemikalien-Klimaschutzverordnung – ChemKlimaschutzV) (PDF / 90 KB).