Global Climate Change and the HVACR Industry

Friedrich P. Busch

Director General

European Partnership for Energy and the Environment

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established in 1988, relies on recognized experts from around the world to assess relevant information on climate change to provide a reliable basis for policy decisions. Although uncertainties remain on many details of future climate change, the IPCC assessments show that enough is known to provide a sound basis for concern over the potential influence of human activities on future climate, with carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels being the primary contributor. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, now ratified by 186 countries, provides a demonstration of this concern by establishing a goal of "….stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system." The HVACR industry will play an important role in helping to achieve this objective. It is recognized that HFCs contributed approximately 1.7% of the total equivalent Green House Gas (GHG) emissions globally in the year 2000 (A.D. Little report on HFC emission inventory, 2000). Though a currently small contributor overall, the HVACR industry is working hard to control emissions of these refrigerants by reducing system leaks, and recovering and recycling HFCs during servicing and at the end of equipment life; a concept know as responsible use. Furthermore, since HVACR equipment uses a substantial amount of electric power, much of which is generated through the combustion of fossil fuels, striving to maximize the energy efficiency of the equipment can result in greater GHG emission savings than even the direct emission potential of the refrigerants. HFCs, used responsibly, can contribute to meeting climate protection goals by maximizing energy efficiency while also meeting HVACR system comfort, safety and reliability goals.