The Government of Japan (Cabinet decision, June 11, 2019)
The Global Warming Prevention Headquarters of the Government of Japan approved the “Long-Term Strategy as a Growth Strategy Based on the Paris Agreement” on the 11th of June 2019 as a long-term strategy for developing low-emissions of greenhouse gases based on the Paris Agreement, and the strategy was adopted at the Cabinet meeting. (www.env.go.jp/press/106869.html)
2. Industries
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d. Complete Transition of fluorocarbons in the longer term
The Government intends to proceed with measures based on international frameworks and domestic laws for the control of fluorocarbons emissions which is an important issue, not only for the protection of the ozone layer, but also for combating climate change. First, based on the international framework of the Montreal Protocol and its domestic legislation, the Act on the Protection of the Ozone Layer through the Control of Specified Substances and Other Measures (Act No. 53 of 1988), the Government will reduce production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons(HFCs) by 85% compared to the reference value (calculated from the average in period 2011-2013) by 2036. To achieve this, the Government intends to develop a cutting-edge low-GWP and non-fluorocarbon refrigerant which does not deplete the ozone layer and causes a low greenhouse effect, as well as the equipment for its use, thereby leading the world in measures against the fluorocarbons through such technology.
And further still, based on the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons (Act No. 64 of 2001; hereafter “Fluorocarbons Emission Restraining Law”), the Government will continue to curb fluorocarbons emissions in the environment. The Government will also consider significantly reducing leakage of fluorocarbon refrigerants during equipment usage by promoting integrated management of equipment and refrigerant information using the IoT, and establish the world’s best emissions control measures by raising the refrigerant recovery rate upon equipment disposal.
Through the measures outlined above, the Government will steadily and incrementally reduce fluorocarbons, including reversing the rapidly increasing tendency of HFC emissions to a decreasing tendency in the short term, and aims to eventually complete transition from fluorocarbons in the longer term. Until the complete transition, the Government will take measures to curb emissions.
Regarding the amount of PFCs, SF6 and NF3 emissions, the industrial Voluntary Action Plan has already achieved extremely high levels of emissions control, and the Government intends to maintain that level.
More specifically, the Government will proceed with measures such as the following:
(a) Development and introduction of low-GWP and non-fluorocarbon refrigerant technology
The Government will steadily promote the development of technology for the introduction of low-GWP and non-fluorocarbon refrigerants, and the equipment that uses them, in order to achieve significant reductions in production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (reduction of 85% compared to reference values by 2036). In addition, the Government will accelerate the conversion of products using fluorocarbons to low-GWP and non-fluorocarbon refrigerants with implementation of regulation on designated products based on the Fluorocarbons Emission Restraining Law, aiming to create the world’s first low-GWP and non-fluorocarbons refrigerants market.
(b) Leakage prevention of fluorocarbons in refrigeration and air conditioner usage
The Government will consider combined advanced initiatives such as integrated management of equipment / refrigerants information using the IoT and measures against leaks during usage on regular inspection of equipment in order to make large reductions of fluorocarbon refrigerants leakage during equipment use.
(c) Recovery and proper management and adequate processing of fluorocarbons from refrigeration and air conditioners
Source: https://unfccc.int/process/the-paris-agreement/long-term-strategies