Current Situation and Challenges ofFluorinated Gases control in Japan
Implementation of theAct on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons
and related matters
July 2016
Atsuhiro Meno, Director
Fluoride Gases Management Office
METI, Japan

Table of Contents

I Background on controlling ozone depleting
substances and fluorinated gases

II Measures under the Law on Rational Useand Proper Management of Fluorocarbons
III Promotion of public awareness and othermatters1Ⅰ-１．Control system of fluorocarbons
 Ozone layer depletion：
Production and consumption of Ozone Depletion Substances (ODSs) such as CFCs and HCFCs arecontrolled by Act on the protection of the Ozone Layer through the Control of specified substancesand other measures according to the Montreal Protocol.
 Global Warming ：Emission control of HFCs, which have no Ozone Depletion Potential, is covered by Act on Global
Warming Countermeasures with other GHGs under the target of UNFCCC. Reflecting a projection ofincreasing HFCs emissions, comprehensive measures have been introduced under the revised law,
Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons.

CFC, HCFCHFCＦＣｌ
Ｆ ＣＣｌＦ

CFC-12・0DP=1.0・GWP=10,900

Ｈ
Ｆ ＣＣｌＦＨ ＣＦＦ
ＣＦ Ｈ

Substitutes

HCFC-22・0DP=0.055
・GWP=1,810

Lower GWP HFC
Natural Refrigerant

Ｈ ＨＣ
Ｆ Ｆ

HFC-32＋ Ｆ
HFC-125

CO2

HFC-134a・0DP=0・GWP=1,430

Ｈ ＣＦＦ
Ｃ
Ｆ Ｆ

Substitutes

HFC-410a・0DP=0・GWP=2,090（HFC-32とHFC125の混合ガス）

A projection ofincreasing amountof HFCs emissions

Protection of Ozone Layer
・Montreal Protocol/Vienna Prevention of Global Warming
Convention
・ Ozone Layer Protection Law

・UNFCCC/ ・ Act on GlobalWarming Countermeasures

Air
HFO

NH3HCBlendComprehensive Measures/ Act of Rational Use andProper Management2

Ⅰ- ２． Situation of Fluorocarbons and Fluorinated gases
 Consumption of all ODSs under the Montreal Protocol has been/will be phased-out by
production/export/import licenses.
 Emission of fluorinated gases under the UNFCCC had been steadily reducing byindustrial voluntary action plans. However, total emissions have in recent years begun
to increase, due to the conversion from CFC and HCFC to HFC as a substitute refrigerant.
Base year level(51mil.t-CO2)

UNIT：ODP t
4,000（mil. t-CO2）

Consumption
Production

3,500
3,000

HCFC Reduction Stepsfor Japan

2,500
2,000

Target of Kyoto Protocol(31mil.t-CO2)

Industrial
Voluntary
Action Plans

1,500
1,000

Disposal

Average
Emission(24mil.t-CO2)
Emission ofHFCrefrigerants
Increasing from AC &refrigerators

Actual Result of Import andProduction (excl. Export)

5000
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

The first commitment
period of Kyoto Protocol
3Ⅰ- ３． Cause of increasing HFC emission
Due to the conversion from CFC and HCFC to HFC as a substitute refrigerant, aggregate
stocks in refrigerators and air conditioners have increased and will continue to increase
year by year.
Estimated GWP stock of refrigerators and air conditioners （BAU）
500

冷媒ストック量（CO2換算）百万t-CO2450

ＨＣＦＣ計

ＣＦＣ計

ＨＦＣ計

400350Substituted
Fluorocarbons

300
250
200

ODSs under the Montreal Protocol

150
100
500
1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

ＢＡＵ：Ｂuｓｉｎｅｓｓ Ａｓ Ｕｓｕａｌ ※フロン分野の排出推計においては、現状の対策を継続した場合の推計を示す。
出典： 実績は政府発表値。2020年予測は、冷凍空調機器出荷台数（日本冷凍空調工業会）、使用時漏えい係数、廃棄係数、回収実績等から経済産業省試算。

4

Ⅰ- 4. Current emission of fluorinated gases and voluntaryaction plans
The emission of fluorinated gases in 2014 increased by 8% from 2013 to 40.7 mil. CO2
tons, mainly from rising HFCs stocks in refrigerators and air conditioners.
Converting those substances that have high GWP into lower GWP or non fluorocarbons
for refrigerant or other purposes is urgently needed.

Contents of voluntary action plans

・Countermeasures for reducing leakage during production and in use.
eg. Enhancement of combustion/decomposition facilities, vibration proof cooling system,
conversion of current gases that have high GWP to lower GWP ones or non fluorocarbons,
feasibility assessment of non/slightly flammable refrigerants, conversion to low GWP
solvents
Sectors

Emission in 2013
（Mil t-CO2）

Changes

Emission in 2014
（Mil t-CO2）

Shares in all GHGs

Fluorinated Gases

37.56

＋8%

40.74

３．０

HFC

31.68

＋12%

35.34

２．６

PFC

3.27

＋3%

3.35

０．２

SF61.25

▲3%

1.21

０．１

NF3

1.36

▲39%

0.83

０．１

All GHGs

１４０８

▲3%

１３６５

１００5

Ⅰ- 5. Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) for the UNFCCC

Japan submitted the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs)
to the secretariat of UNFCCC before the Paris Agreement .
 All gases by 2030: 26.0 % reduction from 2013 (25.4% reductionfrom 2005)
 Fluorinated gases by 2030: 25.1% reduction from 2013 (4.5%increase from 2005)
After the Paris Agreement, Japan has already published a global
warming countermeasures plan (13.05.2016), and launched its
new activities.
 Mid-term target: The same target as in the NDCs was confirmed.
 Long-term target: 80% reduction by 2050 by implementing global
warming countermeasures with sustaining economic growth.

6

Table of Contents
I Background on controlling ozone depleting
substances and fluorinated gases
II Measures under the Law on Rational Useand Proper Management of Fluorocarbons

III Promotion of public awareness and othermatters

7Ⅱ-１. Overview of revised Act covering entire life cycle
The Act has been implemented since April 2015, requests all stakeholders to makeefforts to reduce emissions of HFC
Target 43.4 mil-tCO2 (2020), 36.5 mil-tCO2 (2025)(1) Phase-down HFCs

(2) Promote low GWP products
Refrigerator

Air conditioner

Products withalternatives

Low GWP HFCs
Natural Refrigerant
Insulators

Manufacturersof HFCs

Users ofproducts

Dust blowers

HFCs

Manufacturers of products
containing HFCs

Approved
recyclersSupermarkets

Periodicalcheck
Promotion ofrecycling(4) Promote propercollection, destruction
and recycling

Approved
destructors

Maintenance

Report ofleakage(3) Prevent leakage
from commercial
equipment
Registered re-fillers/
recovery operators

Scope of previous Law

8

Ⅱ-２. For Producers and Importers
Effort to reduce GWP of products① Convert to low GWP fluorocarbons or non-fluorocarbons of their products② Necessary technical development and facility investment. Enhancement of recycling anddestruction
Sequence of program:Government publishes outlook of consumption of fluorocarbons in 2020 and 2025 (in March 2015).
Producers and importers establish their rationalizing plans reflecting the outlook, and reports them tothe government.
Government follows up with producers/importers regarding implementation of their plan.
＜2020 Outlook＞
43.4 mil CO2t (Reduction of 40% from BAU)
＜2025 Outlook＞
36.5 mil CO2t (Reduction of 50% from BAU)

Contents of rationalizing plans・Target of production/imports in 2020
 Projected production is below 43.2 mil・Technical development plan, Facility investigation plan,
Recycling and destruction plan All producers include their technical improvement
plans for reducing their total GWP production9Ⅱ-３. For Manufacturers of Products using Fluorocarbons
Manufacturers and Importers of designated products are required to replace high-GWP
products with low-GWP or non-fluorocarbons for shipping, considering safety, energy
efficiency, economic affordability etc.
Current refrigerant (GWP)

Target value(GWP)

Target year

Room air conditioning

R410A(2090)
R32(675)

７５０

２０１８

Commercial air conditioning(for offices and stores)

R410A(2090)

７５０

２０２０

１５００２０２５

１００２０１９

１５０２０２３

１００２０２０１０２０１９Designated products ※Cold storage warehouses（for more than 50,000 ㎥）

R404A(3920)
R410A(2090)
R407C(1774)
CO2(1)
R404A(3920)
Ammonia (single digit)

Mobile air conditioning

R134a(1430)

Condensing unit and refrigerating unit
(for separate type showcases, etc.)

Urethane foam
(house construction materials)
Dust blowers※ With some exceptions.

HFC-245fa(1030)
HFC-365mfc(795)
HFC-134a(1430)
HFC-152a(124)
CO2(1), DME(1)10Ⅱ-４. For business users of products using fluorocarbons
To prevent leakage, users are required to conduct periodic checks and to arrange for
immediate repairs in case of leakage, and are prohibited from refilling without making
repairs. Users are requested to maintain records and report cases of substantial leakage.

users

Government

Reportingleakageamount over
1,000 CO2-t
annually

Record“ log book ”
Disclose Type/amount of refrigeration used Reports on maintenance including periodic
checks & repair record, date & time, result etc.

Repair/refilling

Explain cause of malfunction whenleakage is identified.

Maintenance operators( registered fillers & recovery operators)

Call a service immediately
to arrange repair/refill
as soon as leakage is found.

Periodicalcheck11Ⅱ-５. For collectors and recyclers of fluorocarbons
In-useleakage&at disposal
Users are prohibited fromusing unregistered re-fillers/
recovery operators for refilling / disposal.

Refill or recycle
Registered re-fillers/
recovery operators

F-gas factory

Approved recyclers

Registered re-fillers/recovery
operators are obliged to delivercollected fluorocarbons toregistered recyclers or destructors
or refill or recycle for users .

Approved destructors
12Table of Contents
I Background on controlling ozone depleting
substances and fluorinated gases
II Measures under the Act on Rational Use andProper Management of Fluorocarbons
III Promotion of public awareness and othermatters13

Ⅲ-１. Labeling (compulsory and voluntary system)

Purpose

Indication

Location

Compulsory (requested by the Act)

Voluntary (Labeling JIS)To promote designated products using lowerGWP/ non-fluorocarbons such as naturalrefrigerants①Target year and target GWP value②Name of products used (kind of fluorocarbon,
or non-fluorocarbons), volume, and GWP value③Name and address of producers
On the products themselves and catalogs (itemsand places are registered in laws)

To help users easily understand the environmental
impact of products

Regulated indicationon the designated products①Target year and GWP value used
②Grade (such as S or AAA) showing achievement oftarget

On the products themselves (including relatedproducts) and catalogs

Labeling JIS
In the catalogs, etc.

SELECTby users

GWP＋PROMOTION

Lower- GWP

Naturalrefrigerant

Showcases are not currently categorized as designated products,
but labels can be affixed to showcases.

14

Ⅲ-２. Promotion of public awareness① Information meeting for industries and business users
Meetings organized by the government are planed 59 times (direct 30, indirect 29) in 2015 FY andwere organized 50 times in 2014 FY.
In addition, many voluntary meetings organized by industries, municipalities and other groups
were conducted.
TargetDirectorganized
meeting

Collector

Overview of law, flow of FHC, role andactivities of collectors, electronic dataprocessing, etc.

User

Overview of law, flow of FHC, role andactivities of users, calculation of leakage
electronic data processing, etc.

GeneralMeeting
supported bytheGovernment

Contents

Depends onmeetingorganizers

Methods of maintenance of products etc.

Overview of law, flow of FHC, role andactivities of collectors, role and activities ofusers, etc.

total

Operated/planned

2014 FY
ParticipantsOperated

1,140

Participants

6,633

30/30
3,450--

29/30

2,484

7,074

50

7,838

5,222--

19,693As of March 7 2016

②Publicationa) public newspaper announcements (4 times in general newspapers and 3 times in industry papers)b) leaflet (general information - 160,000 copies, for business users reporting leakage - 40,000 copies)

Ⅲ-３. Training course for empowering engineers
For preventing leakage of refrigerants during maintenance and construction, a reeducation program for experienced engineers has been conducted by the government.
The curriculum of the program is focused on practical exercises of advanced
technologies including natural refrigerants such as CO2.
 Target number of trainees; 400 participants
Materials①Guideline for planning and constructionengineer②Demonstration DVD videoCurriculum
subject
First dayLectures・Technical and legal information
・Basic knowledge for safety

Practices

・Practices using DVD video
・Practices on brazing

Practices

・Practices on brazing

Evaluation

・Practices on brazing
・Evaluation for practices
・Discussion
・Evaluation

Activities①40 places nation wide
②Ten trainees per one workshop

Secondday

activities

 Voluntary training courses reflecting the national training course have been held nation wide.

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Definitions and abbreviations
Words or phrases in this presentation are defined asfollows without any specifications: CFCs; Chlorofluorocarbons
 HCFCs; Hydrochlorofluorocarbons
 HFCs; Hydrofluorocarbons
 Fluorocarbons; CFCs and HCFCs controlled by the Montreal
Protocol and HFCs controlled by the Kyoto Protocol/UNFCCC ODSs; Ozone Depleting Substances controlled by the Montreal
Protocol (CFCs, HCFCs, Halon, CTC, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane,Methyl Bromide, HBFCs* and Bromochloromethane* ) Fluorinated gases; Fluorocarbons defined above and PFCs, SF6and NF3 controlled by the Kyoto Protocol /UNFCCC* HBFCs* and Bromochloromethane* are not used in Japan.
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