US concerned about HFC use

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are the hot topic under discussion at the United Nations Environment Program, after the US deputy assistant secretary of state sent an email to the group releasing information that shows HFCs are a significant cause of climate change and require a phase-down globally.

HFCs are generally found in air conditioners and refrigerators and need phase down efforts because a sudden phase out would be too drastic.

However, this does not undermine the results of the studies that show HFCs must be sparingly used in the future due to the greenhouse gases they emit.

Europe has already started to eliminate the use of HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) globally in correspondence with the Montreal Protocol, but HCFCS will continue to be used in small amounts until the close of the year which is the directive under the Protocol.

At this point the use of HFCs will become more widespread throughout Europe, as an alternative to HCFCs.

The US government has recently raised concern with the phase out because of fear that the new HFCs will emit just as many poisonous and harmful greenhouse gases that also contribute to climate change.

The US administration hopes to convince European nations to sway from a phase out plan to a phase down plan while the effects of HFCs are more closely studied.