Preserving earth's ozone-layer and minimising impacts on climate change

From beyond Earth's ozone layer, our planet looks breathtakingly beautiful. Within our atmosphere, however, the use of chloroflourocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) for refrigeration and air conditioning continues to threaten earth's life-sustaining environment. The ozone 'hole' over the Antarctic results in sharply reduced 'burn-times' for New Zealanders exposed to the sun's harmful ultra-violet rays.  Climate change is a major world issue and synthetic refrigerants are a contributor.

Moving to alternative refrigerants

The Ozone Layer Protection Act 1996 and regulations are the means through which New Zealand, along with other countries, is phasing out all ozone-threatening, chlorine-based chemicals and replacing them with alternatives, some of which are still being researched and developed and some which have global warming potential.
The importation of CFCs has been prohibited in New Zealand since 1996, the only exemptions being recycled CFCs and a provision for uses relating to human health and safety. HCFCs are subject to controlled importation and will be phased out by 2015.

Close to home

In the home, CFCs continue to be used in ageing refrigerators, freezers and home air conditioning systems. CFCs are also found in the air conditioning units of older vehicles. These gases and other synthetic refrigerant gases are only ozone-threatening and contributors to global warming when they are allowed to leak into the atmosphere, so special care must be taken to ensure appliances are properly maintained and, when replaced, disposed of in a responsible manner.  

Phasing out of Refrigerants under the Ozone Layer Protection Act.

SUBSTANCES NOW PHASED OUT

(Permits to import cannot be issued)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Halons, Carbon Tetrachloride, Methyl Chloroform and Hydrobromofluorocarbons (HBFCs)

SUBSTANCES BEING PHASED OUT

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), Methyl Bromide
(excluding quarantine and preshipment uses)

PROHIBITED PRODUCTS

(i.e. Using or containing ozone-deleting substances)
Aerosols
Fire extinguishers
Plastic foam (if manufactured using CFCs),
Drycleaning machines (if any prohibited substance is used as a solvent),

Imports from non-complying countries that contain any controlled substances other than HCFCs or methyl bromide

The following stand-alone products (if containing CFCs)

Dehumidifiers, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, supermarket display cases, heat pumps and water coolers.

PHASE OUT SCHEDULE

Stage 1 Base Year Allocation
Permit allocation based on previous use

Stage 2 1996
Reduction to 75% of base for HCFC and CFC-converted permits

Stage 3 2000
Reduction to 50% base on all permits

Stage 4 2006
Complete removal of CFC-converted permits HCFC permits to 40% of base

Stage 5 2010
Reduction to 25% of base for HCFC permits

Stage 6 2015
Complete phase-out of HCFC permits