Initiative on Fluorocarbons Life Cycle Management

Last updated: 4 March, 2020

Minister of the Environment Koizumi Shinjiro declared to launch the Initiative on Fluorocarbons Life Cycle Management at the 25th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP25) held in Madrid, Spain, in December 2019.

• Overview of Initiative on Fluorocarbons Life Cycle Management (PDF)
• Concept Paper (PDF)

Summary

1.Purpose

• Given the urgent need to address climate change comprehensively and the increasing demand of fluorocarbons as refrigerants in the cooling sector, it is essential to address fluorocarbons emissions throughout the life-cycle including leakage in use and discharge to the air at disposal.
• Promoting the life cycle management of fluorocarbons will significantly reduce emissions and contribute to mitigating climate change as well as ozone depletion (by HCFCs and CFCs) through introducing sound policies and technologies as well as by building relevant infrastructure. It will also contribute to improving resource efficiency, spurring innovation, and promoting sustainable economic growth and quality jobs.
• The initiative will facilitate concrete actions and innovation and the collaboration among governments, the private sectors, and international institutions for our mutual benefits and support to strengthen the life-cycle management of fluorocarbons, while collaborating with existing activities and frameworks.

2.Scope

• To share a common understanding, take actions, mainstream the life-cycle management approach
• To facilitate actions on the entire life-cycle of fluorocarbons, while focusing on untapped areas of work (middle and downstream)
• To collaborate with existing activities and frameworks including Efficient Cooling Initiative under the CCAC and the Cool Coalition with regard to upstream measure.

3.Potential Partners

Governments, Private Sectors, International Institutions, Financial institutions and others

4.Potential collaborative actions

(1)Cooperate in formulating and implementing fluorocarbons emissions reduction plans

(2)Promote compiling emissions inventory

(3)Capacity building

(4)Increase financial flow through ESG investment and facilitate information disclosure

(5)Share good practices

(6)Enhance the partnership with the private sector and accelerate innovation

(7)Promote feasibility studies and demonstration projects

5.Partners (as of 10 February, 2020)

State Partner / Inter-Governmental Organization: 11

• Chile, France, Japan, Maldives, Mongolia, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam
• The World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)

Private Sector Entities / Non-Governmental Organization: 10

• Asada Corporation, Daikin Industries, Lawson, Marubeni Corporation, Mayekawa MFG, Chemours-Mitsui Fluoroproducts, Panasonic
• Japan Fluorocarbon Manufacturers Association (JFMA), The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association (JRAIA), Japan Association of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Contractors (JARAC)

Reference

• Japan launches Fluorocarbons Initiative, contributing to global effort to solve the climate crisis (CCAC secretariat, 22 January, 2020)
• Press Release on launching the Initiative on Fluorocarbons Life Cycle Management (10 January, 2020) (in Japanese)

Contact

• Office of Fluorocarbons Control Policy, Global Environment Bureau
• Office of Director for International Strategy on Climate Change, Global Environment Bureau

Ministry of the Environment, Japan
Contact: info_IFL@env.go.jp