The problem—replacing one harmful chemical with another

When the discovery of the ozone hole in the 1980s forced the banning of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), the refrigeration industry switched to hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). HCFCs contribute to both ozone depletion and climate change, albeit less so than CFCs. While HFCs are non ozone-depleting, they are nonetheless potent greenhouse gases. Both HCFCs and HFCs are man-made climate-changing chemicals.

The use of HCFCs and HFCs today represents a classic example of industry replacing one set of harmful substances with another. Both chemicals are potentially thousands of times stronger global warming gases than carbon dioxide.

For more information, please refer to our fact sheet (PDF) on F-gases.