Harper Government taking early action to stop increase in emissions from world's most potent and fastest-growing greenhouse gases

News Release

New measures planned to control manufacture, import and certain uses of hydrofluorocarbons

December 5, 2014 – Ottawa, Ontario – Environment Canada

Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced today the Government of Canada is taking action to reduce emissions from the world’s most potent and fastest-growing greenhouse gases (GHGs). Environment Canada is moving forward with the development of regulatory measures to limit the growth of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are expected to increase substantially in the next 10 to 15 years, if left unchecked. This announcement follows Minister Aglukkaq’s commitment earlier this year at the United Nations Climate Summit that Canada would address HFC emissions.

The Government will publish a Notice of Intent to Regulate Hydrofluorocarbons in the Canada Gazette on December 6, outlining the scope of the proposed regulatory measures for these potent GHGs that are thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA, 1999), the Government of Canada proposes to regulate the manufacture and import of commercial refrigeration systems, foam-blowing agents, vehicle air-conditioning units and consumer aerosols that contain specific HFCs.

Canada is also taking a leadership role to reduce HFCs internationally, and intends to encourage other countries to follow its lead while in Lima for COP20. Further, in November, Parties to the Montreal Protocol considered a proposal put forward by Canada, the United States and Mexico to phase down HFCs. The Parties of the Montreal Protocol will hold an additional meeting in 2015, where Canada intends to take a leadership role in encouraging countries to engage constructively in discussions on issues related to HFC management, including further consideration of phase-down options. Canada believes it is important for countries to take domestic action now on HFCs in advance of a comprehensive, global phase down agreement.

The introduction of domestic regulatory measures for HFCs is the latest step in the Government of Canada’s sector-by-sector approach to reducing GHG emissions. For more information on Canada’s action on climate change, visit www.climatechange.gc.ca.

Quick Facts

HFCs are manufactured chemicals introduced into the global market to replace ozone depleting substances being phased-out under the Montreal Protocol. HFCs are not ozone depleting, but are powerful GHGs.
HFCs are not manufactured in Canada, but are imported in bulk and in manufactured products.
Some HFCs are thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide.
HFCs currently account for less than 2 per cent of GHG global emissions, but are the fastest growing GHGs in the world, increasing at a rate of 10 to 15 per cent per year. If no immediate action is taken, HFC emissions could account for as much as 9 to 19 per cent of global GHG emissions by 2050.
Earlier this year, the Government of Canada also announced final GHG regulations for cars and light trucks of model year 2017 and beyond, and to further regulate emissions from heavy-duty vehicles.

Quotes

“Our Government has once again demonstrated its commitment to international efforts focused on reducing emissions by following through on a promise to limit the most potent and fastest-growing greenhouse gases in the world. The introduction of new measures to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons is just the latest step in our Government’s sector-by-sector regulatory approach and builds on the successful action we have already taken to address two of Canada’s largest sources of emissions: the transportation and electricity sectors.”

– The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council