Montreal Protocol Center
The landmark global agreement to protect the stratospheric ozone layer and mitigate climate change by phasing out ozone-depleting substances and phasing down HFCs.
History & Success
The journey from the discovery of the ozone hole to universal ratification.
Kigali Amendment
The 2016 agreement to phase down HFCs, crucial for climate change mitigation.
Refrigerant Database
Searchable database of CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, and natural alternatives.
SF₆ Regulatory Measures
Phasing down sulfur hexafluoride and super-pollutants under global policy.
Compliance & Quotas
Understanding Article 5 schedules, licensing systems, and import quotas.
Customs Training
Resources for identifying illegal trade in controlled substances.
SF₆ Regulatory Phasedown Measures
Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF₆) is the most potent greenhouse gas known to science. Primarily used as an electrical insulating gas in high-voltage switchgear and transformers, its emissions represent a multi-millennial environmental risk due to its extreme 3,200-year atmospheric lifetime.
At the 37th Meeting of the Parties (MOP37) in Nairobi (November 2025), the Accra-Helsinki Group for Sustainable Cooling convened a dedicated international Side Event co-chaired by Kofi Agyarko (Ghana) and Tapio Reinikainen (Finland). The session gathered more than 40 delegates to review practical market solutions, technical alternatives (such as natural origin gases and synthetic air mixtures), and regulatory frameworks to control SF₆.
The Group emphasized the regulatory precedent set by the European Union's revised F-gas Regulation (EU 2024/573), which establishes a clear timetable to phase out SF₆ in electrical switchgear:
- Medium-Voltage Switchgear (up to 24 kV): Phaseout of SF₆ starting in 2026.
- Medium-Voltage Switchgear (24 kV to 52 kV): Phaseout starting in 2030.
- High-Voltage Switchgear (above 52 kV): Progressive phaseout starting from 2030 to 2032 as viable non-SF₆ alternatives achieve commercial maturity.
The Accra-Helsinki Group promotes shared responsibility and practical policy dialogues to ensure developing countries are not locked into obsolete electrical infrastructure, while encouraging Montreal Protocol and international climate mechanisms to address high-GWP super-pollutants effectively.