The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer has proven successful in controlling the production and consumption of fluorocarbons. However, life-cycle refrigerant management (LRM)—especially leakage prevention and appropriate treatment of refrigerants after use—has been left dependent on voluntary actions by the respective Parties to the Protocol.
Therefore, even with the Kigali Amendment, the projections are for enormous amounts of fluorocarbons to be released into the air in coming decades.
LRM complements the efforts under the Montreal Protocol and strengthens the global efforts toward Net Zero Emissions under the Paris Agreement. For example, some countries have started integrating LRM as part of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
LRM also brings the co-benefits of increasing energy efficiency of cooling equipment, promoting a circular economy with efficient use of resources, as well as creating green jobs in the market. Such an integrated approach will also contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
That is why LRM is effective and essential toward realizing our sustainable future.
Japan has worked for a long time to implement LRM by developing the necessary legal systems to accommodate it.
Based on its experience, Japan launched the “Initiative on Fluorocarbons Life Cycle Management” (IFL) at UNFCCC COP 25 in 2019 to promote LRM internationally.
The IFL stresses the importance of LRM and promotes mainstreaming into international and national policy frameworks. Also, the IFL works with developing countries to strengthen their capacity and create an enabling environment for policy development, deployment of technologies and access to finance, in partnership with partner governments, organizations and the private sector.
In recent years, Montreal Protocol meetings have focused on discussions of LRM. A report on LRM was published and a one-day workshop on LRM was held in 2024, based on the decision by the 35th Meeting of the Parties in 2023. Following the report, which was submitted by the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP), governments and experts discussed policy, technical and financial issues at the workshop. As a panelist, I shared Japan’s experiences in domestic implementation of legal instruments.
The TEAP report estimated that between 2025 and 2050 LRM would result in cuts in HFC and HCFC emissions of up to 39 Gt CO2e. This is approximately 35 times Japan's annual net GHG emissions, so the potential mitigation impact is huge.
The papers in this publication discuss the current situation, challenges and issues regarding various aspects of LRM, making useful recommendations.
I hope this publication will make a great contribution to progress in implementing LRM worldwide.
Teruo KOGU
Former Director
Office of Fluorocarbons Control Policy
Global Environment Bureau
Ministry of the Environment, Japan
