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6.4.12 (HL)—HFCs

Syllabus
First assessment 2026
Objective
6.4.12
Level
HL

Separate Ozone-Safe from Climate-Safe Refrigerants

HL only

A refrigerant can have low ozone-depletion potential yet still have high greenhouse effect; Kigali targets high-GWP HFCs after CFC replacement.

CFCs deplete ozone and warm climate; HFCs generally avoid ozone depletion but some strongly absorb infrared. Judge both ODP and GWP across leakage, lifetime and alternatives.

Replacing a CFC with an HFC can protect stratospheric ozone while leaving a climate-emissions problem.

It addresses high-GWP HFCs, connecting ozone governance to climate mitigation.

‘Ozone-friendly’ is not a complete environmental verdict; check greenhouse forcing and lifecycle leakage.