Australia accelerates phase-down of high-impact refrigerant gases
Australia is steadily reducing the use of high global warming refrigerant gases as part of a global agreement under the Montreal Protocol. Since 2018, the country has been cutting imports of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — a key step toward meeting its 2030 emissions targets and transitioning industry to more sustainable alternatives.
What’s changing?
The phase-down is being delivered through a strict import quota that decreases each year over an 18-year period. By 2036, Australia will reduce HFC imports to just 15% of historical levels.
Why it matters
HFCs are widely used in refrigeration and air conditioning — including transport refrigeration — but they have a high global warming impact. While they don’t damage the ozone layer, their contribution to climate change is significant.
What replaces HFCs?
Industry is already moving toward lower-impact alternatives, including:
These options offer significantly lower or near-zero global warming potential and are becoming standard in modern systems.
Who is affected?
The bottom line
This is a planned transition, not a sudden change. Existing systems will continue to operate and be serviced, but new equipment will increasingly adopt low-GWP refrigerants. For fleet operators and cold chain businesses, the direction is clear: cleaner, more efficient refrigeration is the future.
What does this mean for operators and what can you do?
We take pride in offering cool and unique refrigerated transport solutions. Our team is widely known for crafting robust and long-lasting solutions that will cater to all your transportation needs.