Nations Tackle the Most Potent Greenhouse Gases: F-Gases

This research paper examines the nature of fluorinated gases (F-gases), their impact on global warming, and the international and domestic policy frameworks designed to phase them down, specifically focusing on the Kigali Amendment and the U.S. AIM Act.

• Fluorinated gases (F-gases) are man-made substances divided into four main categories: hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). While they were introduced to replace ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), they are extremely potent greenhouse gases that can remain in the atmosphere for hundreds or thousands of years; for instance, HFCs can persist for up to 270 years, while PFCs can stay for 2,600 to 50,000 years.
• The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, ratified by the United States Senate in October 2022 and agreed to by over 170 countries in 2016, mandates a phasedown of the production and use of HFCs. In the United States, the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM Act) of 2020 requires HFC use to be reduced by 85 percent from current levels before 2036.
• A significant portion of refrigerant greenhouse gas emissions—nearly 90 percent—is attributed to end-of-life leaking. Mitigation strategies include the development of sophisticated leak detection systems by companies like Bacharach and Emerson, the use of destruction facilities for safe disposal, and the promotion of reclaimed, non-virgin HFCs as sustainable procurement.
• Policymakers and manufacturers are seeking sustainable alternatives to HFCs, including natural refrigerants such as ammonia gas, hydrocarbons (propane or butane), and CO2. The U.S. EPA is supporting the development of these substitutes through its Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program.
• The European Union has implemented more stringent F-gas regulations than the U.S., including a ban on F-gases in many new products since 2015. In 2022, the EU Commission proposed further regulations to reduce HFC quotas and ban F-gases in specific applications. Additionally, Canada has listed PFCs as a toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act Schedule One.

APA

Solis, N., & Brind’Amour, M. (2023). Nations Tackle the Most Potent Greenhouse Gases: F-Gases. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/nations-tackle-the-most-potent-greenhouse-gasesf-gases

Chicago

Solis, Nick, and Molly Brind’Amour. Nations Tackle the Most Potent Greenhouse Gases: F-Gases. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2023. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/nations-tackle-the-most-potent-greenhouse-gasesf-gases.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Solis |first1=Nick |last2=Brind’Amour |first2=Molly |title=Nations Tackle the Most Potent Greenhouse Gases: F-Gases |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=10 January 2023 |url=https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/nations-tackle-the-most-potent-greenhouse-gasesf-gases |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{solis2023nations, author = {Solis, Nick and Brind’Amour, Molly}, title = {{Nations Tackle the Most Potent Greenhouse Gases: F-Gases}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/nations-tackle-the-most-potent-greenhouse-gasesf-gases}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }