Emissions
of fluorocarbons
CC-11
Climate
Change
Pressure
1 Indicator
definition and unit of measurement
Total
emissions of fluorocarbons, including perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Emissions of individual compounds are multiplied by
their Global Warming Potential
[15],
and added together. The unit of measurement is tonnes of CO
2
per year, since the fluorocarbon emissions are expressed in Global Warming
Potentials (CO
2
is reference).
2 Placement
in the framework
5EAP:
Chapter
5: The themes and targets of the programme, section 5.1: Climate change.
Agenda
21:
Chapter
9: Protection of the atmosphere, section 2: Conservation and management of
resources for development.
International
conventions and agreements:
None.
Ranking:
Core
ranking:
11
(10%)
Policy
Relevance:
9
(2.8)
Analytical
Soundness:
11
(2.6)
Responsiveness:
4
(2.8)
Most
appropriate related state indicator:
Atmospheric
concentrations of fluorocarbons, global temperature.
3 Significance
Purpose:
Fluorocarbons
are being used to replace ozone-depleting substances in some applications. The
main purpose of this indicator is to monitor total fluorocarbon emissions.
Relevance:
PFCs
are removed from the atmosphere very slowly and emissions will accumulate in
the atmosphere. Moreover, these compounds have Global Warming Potentials of
around 7,000. The concentrations and radiative impacts of HFCs are currently
small.
See
also 3. Relevance of the Methodology sheet for CO
2
(CC-1) in this section, and for CFCs in the Ozone Depletion section (OD-2).
Linkages
to other pressure indicators:
The
indicator is linked to the indicators of other greenhouse gases, especially
that of CFCs.
Targets:
None.
4 Methodological
description and underlying definitions
Underlying
definitions and concepts:
Current
and expected applications of these compounds include refrigeration and
air-conditioning, fire extinguishing, aerosols, solvents and foam production.
Emissions occur either instantaneously or slowly over time.
Measurement
methods:
The
revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (Revised
Guidelines) include a methodology to estimate emissions related to the
production of HFCs, PFCs and SF
6.
Limitations
of the indicator:
Besides
fluorocarbons, sulphurhexafluoride (SF
6)
has high estimated lifetimes and a high Global Warming Potential.
Alternative
definitions:
An
aggregated indicator including SF
6.
[15]
Examples
of Global Warming Potentials are (IPCC second assessment report, 1996): HFC-23
= 11,700; HFC-32 = 650; CF
4
= 6,500; C
2F6
= 9,200 (assuming a 100 years time horizon).
