Tag: environment

Scientists have observed a significant drop in the levels of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in the atmosphere. The most common, R22, poses a significant threat due to being an ozone-depleting substance with a high global warming potential (GWP) 1760 times that of carbon dioxide. A study led by the University of Bristol and published in scientific journal … Continue reading Atmospheric HCFC levels may have peaked

The Australian automotive industry is taking a proactive approach to environmental responsibility, with the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) securing a $1 million grant to develop a national product stewardship scheme for end-of-life vehicles (ELV). However, publicity surrounding the announcement – including a study into ELV stewardship … Continue reading End-of-life vehicles proposal must reflect importance of  refrigerants

Cool-Safe has been accredited by New Zealand’s environment minister as a product stewardship scheme for the priority product refrigerants and other synthetic greenhouse gases. The organisation says a regulated stewardship scheme, with full participation, will help provide “better insights on the whole lifecycle of refrigerant, from import to destruction, increasing the impact of decisions made … Continue reading Cool-Safe accredited as refrigerant and SGG stewardship scheme in NZ

ARC Insights: Don’t fear the audit!

We often talk about the fear of the unknown, and rarely are such fears more unfounded than when an ARCtick licence holder is preparing for an audit, especially their first audit.  Officially these audits are called permit condition checks, and their purpose is to ensure that holders of a Refrigerant Trading Authorisation (RTA) are complying … Continue reading ARC Insights: Don’t fear the audit!

With Australian Refrigeration Council CEO Glenn Evans As a member of VASA, you no doubt know about the ARCtick licensing scheme for Australia’s climate control industry – you most likely hold an ARCtick refrigerant handling licence (RHL) or refrigerant trading authorisation (RTA). The automotive sector has more than 32,000 RHLs and well over 10,000 RTAs … Continue reading Inside ARC: A look at licensing and environmental Initiatives

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are becoming an increasing topic of concern due to the fact they do not easily break down and start to accumulate in the environment and living organisms, then make their way up the food chain in potentially high concentrations. Several northern European countries and the EC is undertaking work on … Continue reading Global PFAS concerns will likely lead to tougher refrigerant controls, Australia opens consultation

Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria has published draft guidelines for managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is seeking public consultation. Methods of reducing refrigerant emissions discussed in the document have been welcomed by the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) as signalling a new way for business under Victoria’s ‘general environment duty’ that, under the Environment Protection Act … Continue reading EPA Victoria seeking feedback on draft greenhouse gas emissions guidelines

Although the Paris Agreement that was reached in 2015 marked the beginning of a global effort to limit temperature rise for this century to 2.0°C above pre-industrial levels, with the ideal outcome being 1.5°C, a new report published by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has highlighted the impact of any change beyond this … Continue reading New report delivers stark message on climate change

A report published by Australia’s National Transport Commission (NTC) has showcased how the public preference for SUVs and utes is harming reductions in CO2 emissions. Data compiled in the annual “Carbon Emissions Intensity for New Australian Light Vehicles” report indicates that the average CO2 emissions for new passenger and light commercial vehicles in 2017 was … Continue reading Worst CO2 reduction since 2002 linked to ute and SUV boom

Mitsubishi Triton in wrecking yard

A report commissioned by the Department of the Environment into the release of refrigerants from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in Australia estimates that 166 tonnes of high global warming potential R134a and 21 tonnes of ozone-depleting R12 were emitted in this way during 2013. That is equivalent to 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, based on … Continue reading End-of-life vehicle refrigerant study out soon