The hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) commonly used as refrigerants are contributing to global warming, leading the EU to accelerate their phase-out. However, as regulations tighten, prices rise, attracting illicit actors. According to a report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) in April, criminals are taking risks for high profits by smuggling large quantities of refrigerants from China and Turkey into Europe, exacerbating the climate crisis.

HFCs are primarily used in refrigeration equipment, electronic cleaning, and other fields. While they do not deplete the ozone layer, they have a high Global Warming Potential (GWP), which accelerates global warming. Consequently, Europe and other industrialized nations have pledged to reduce their usage by 85% compared to 2012 levels by the year 2036. However, these products are still circulating in the market.

Finding illegal HFCs in the European market is not difficult," says Fin Walravens, Senior Climate Campaigner at the Environmental Investigation Agency, to Euractiv. "Smuggling the most polluting and dirtiest gases is equivalent to making the most money." He added that illegal HFCs trade not only exacerbates climate change but also involves significant tax evasion.

Three years ago, the Environmental Investigation Agency published an investigative report revealing the smuggling of illegal HFCs into the EU through Romania. In April of this year, an updated investigation titled "More Chilling Than Ever" further exposed the smuggling channels. Smugglers primarily procure HFCs from Turkey and China, enter the EU through countries like Bulgaria, and then distribute them to Greece, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and other locations.

The Environmental Investigation Agency found that smugglers have become more sophisticated in their methods. They are reducing the use of banned disposable steel cylinders or disguising HFCs as environmentally friendly refrigerants like HFO to evade detection and interception.

The EU's newly revised Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulation, which came into effect in March, provides law enforcement agencies with more tools to combat illegal trade. However, Walravens pointed out that as the EU accelerates the phase-out of HFCs, demand for non-HFC alternatives may rise further. The EU must coordinate cooperation and enforce regulations vigorously to combat climate crime effectively.

Ian Rae, former technical advisor to the Montreal Protocol and Honorary Professor at the University of Melbourne, stated that even though there are environmentally preferable alternatives available, phasing out old chemicals is not easy. Some customers are satisfied with the old products, and the reluctance to switch to new ones is compounded by the potentially higher cost of the new products.

Reference:
*Environmental investigation Agency（2024.4.8），Illegal smuggling of refrigerant gases into Europe continues as the climate crisis worsens

*Environmental investigation Agency（2024.4.8），More Chilling Than Ever – Tackling Europe’s ongoing illegal trade in HFC climate super pollutants

*euractiv（2024.4.8），Climate-warming gases being smuggled into Europe, investigation says

*Ministry of Environment（2023.11.21），Actively mitigating global warming, Ministry of Environment announces draft law for the management of hydrofluorocarbons

Source: Environmental Information Center