Australia: The Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has said that it welcomes the announcement from Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, of a domestic phase-down schedule of an 85% reduction of HFC emissions by 2036 via a statutory phase-down of HFC imports over a 20-year timeline.

The institute said that the move will enable provisions to be included as part of new legislation for future bans on the import of new equipment containing high-GWP HFCs. Equipment, such as domestic and automotive air conditioners containing high-GWP refrigerants, the institute elaborated, will be considered in the future. According to the institute, the government says that this decision will be based on an assessment of the Australian market, and particularly on the availability of alternative equipment.

The government, the institute said, will introduce legislative amendments to implement new measures as soon as possible, with all initiatives to begin by January 2018.

Praising the collaborative nature of Australia’s HVACR industry, Hunt said: “AIRAH applauds the announcement of an HFC phase-down. Not only is such a measure pivotal to national and international efforts to reduce CO₂-equivalent emissions in the face of climate change, it provides some certainty to those in the HVAC&R industry, who can now plan for and invest in new technology that will be required.”

By taking this path, Hunt said that Australia will be joining the US, the European Union and Japan in adopting early action to reduce HFC emissions. He said, “We see the HFC phase-down as completely congruent with our strategic themes of HVAC&R sustainability, compliance, innovation and research, and the need to transition to next-generation refrigerants.”

“Those engaged in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration – this is the stuff of life,” said Hunt, adding, “Yours is an industry that has been proactive in helping to reduce emissions and global warming potential. It’s truly a case of local actions having global implications.”