Impact of the decrease in CFC emissions on refrigeration: target of the IIR initiative

According to the Montreal Protocol, agreed upon in 1987, a 50% decrease in CFC emissions will become effective in 1999. Optimistic scenarios do not foresee any problems for refrigeration, supposing alternative, environmentally more acceptable, refrigerants become available in a period of five to seven years from now. The newest analysis of ozone measurements, yielding an unexpected seasonal depletion everywhere, might have the consequence that additional reductions will be agreed upon. The refrigeration industry will then have to search more actively for alternatives and various types of other measures. In the following text, developments regarding the CFC—ozone hypothesis are once more considered. What has been the trend so far in searching for alternative substances and alternative measures is presented thereafter. The attitudes and actions of various (inter)national institutes are considered. Substitutes are then listed and scenario investigations are presented. The main part of this contribution deals with the IIR initiative, set up to investigate the effects of measures and the research necessary to decrease CFC emissions. The IIR initiative and its specific set-up, as well as some preliminary results, can be found in the later sections of the paper.