India’s initiative to diminish Hydrofluorocarbons!
Q. MoEF has announced next generation sustainable technologies for which HFC releasing object?- Published on 19 Sep 16a. Fridge
b. Perfume spray
c. Air conditioners
d. Both a and c
ANSWER: Both a and c
Environment ministry on 15th Sept 2016 announced an ambitious collaborative programme for R&D to develop next generation sustainable refrigerant technologies.
- These are alternatives to climate damaging hydrofluorocarbons
- This announcement came a day before International Ozone Day on 16th Sept
- Announcement concerns HFC which is however, not an ozone depleting chemical like other refrigerants
- But HFC has a huge potential to damage the climate and it is important to fight the adverse impact of climate change
- Announcement indicates India’s commitment to phase down HFC by taking domestic industries on board so refrigerant sector does not get affected till cost effective cutting edge technology is available for HFC
- HFC is released by Acs, fridges and insulating foam
- Countries from across the globe will meet in Rwanda to phase down HFC as part of amendment to a Montreal Protocol
- Montreal Protocol indicates that phasing down of HCFCs and CFCs is imperative; it does not consider non ozone depleting substances like HFC
- Cutting down on HFC is to avoid 0.5 degree C warming towards the close of the 21st century and diminishing emission of dangerous GHG
- BSIR , DST and allied institution Centre for Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences and key industry players in the refrigerant sector will be part of this initiative
- India already has a small carbon footprint at citizen level and this research can prevent patented expensive and polluting technologies from being used
