Fluorocarbons, which are widely used in refrigeration, air conditioning, foam insulation, and fire suppression, are potent greenhouse gases. Despite international regulations under the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment, vast quantities of these chemicals remain in old equipment and products. These stockpiles, known as “banks,” continue to accumulate, posing a constant environmental threat. In China alone, their emissions could add 0.014°C to global warming by mid-century, with even greater global effects.
Sustainable management of refrigerants could be a powerful climate solution
