Fluorinated gases

They are used in refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pumps, fire suppression, electronics, aerospace, magnesium industry, foam and high voltage switchgear.

As these substances were found to deplete the ozone layer, the Montreal Protocol began to lay down provisions for them to be phased-out globally after the agreement was ratified in 1987.

F-gases are ozone-friendly, enable energy efficiency, and are relatively safe for use by the public due to their low levels of toxicity and flammability.

The total atmospheric concentration of F-gases, CFCs, and HCFCs has grown rapidly since the mid-twentieth century; a time which marks the start of their production and use at industrial scale.

Most recently, this has taken the form of a declaration of support for a global phase-down as part of the outcomes of the "Rio+20" United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

[6] In the United States, the regulation of F-gases falls under the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency's overall attempts to combat greenhouse gases.

The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act is federal legislation that mandates at 85% reduction in the production and consumption of HFC refrigerants by 2035, in compliance with the Kigali Amendment.

The emissions of this gas are currently on the rise in China (and in other countries defined as non-Annex-I by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) "due to their rapid expansion of power demand and fast adoption of renewable energy technologies".

Atmospheric concentration of SF 6 , NF 3 , and several widely used HFCs and PFCs between years 1978 and 2015 (right graph). Note the logarithmic scale.
Annual growths in radiative forcing contributions from atmospheric HFCs and HCFCs have recently peaked near 10%, as compared to steadier 1%-2% growth from the major carbon- and nitrogen-cycle greenhouse gases. [ 3 ]