On April 21, the European Commission announced the preliminary agreement on the European Climate Law, which aims to introduce the legal obligation for all member states to implement the objectives set out in the European Green Deal.

Despite the new European climate agreements, in Italy greenhouse emissions from refrigerant gases continue to increase exponentially due to the consumption of fluorinated gases with very high greenhouse potential, especially in commercial refrigeration. This increase is related to the maintenance of the old existing supermarkets and hypermarkets, which use highly climate-impacting refrigerants and which disperse 12-15% of them into the environment per year due to operating losses (over 2500 tons per year).

On the occasion of the World Refrigeration Day of 26 June, Assocold - Association of manufacturers of refrigeration equipment federated in ANIMA - asks the institutions to intervene urgently on this problem with an incentive program that facilitates the modernization of commercial refrigeration equipment, with the use of natural refrigerants that are not harmful to the climate.

In Italy, fluorinated gases represent 4.4% of the total greenhouse gases in terms of CO2 equivalent in 2019. In particular, HFCs show a significant increase between 1990 and 2019, from 0.4 to 16.8 million tons of CO2 equivalent (MCO2eqT), constantly increasing (source ISPRA, National inventory of greenhouse gases 1990-2019, April 2021).

The main refrigerant (R-404A - GWP 3920) used in commercial refrigeration since 2008, has been banned in all new stationary commercial refrigeration equipment since January 1, 2020, but is still used for maintenance of existing systems, i.e. to compensate losses in operation.

With the implementation of the F-Gas Regulation, the commercial refrigeration industry has for years now completely adapted its technologies and its product portfolio with the use of natural-based refrigerants, mainly carbon dioxide (R744, CO2) and propane. (R290), which do not cause a greenhouse effect.

To limit emissions harmful to the climate, it is therefore a priority to intervene immediately and reconvert the old systems by equipping them with modern technologies, natural refrigerants and maximum energy efficiency.

The modernization of machinery would also constitute a step forward in the food distribution network, reducing operating costs and putting an end to the big business of the illegal HFC market. The project is also consistent with the strategic objectives of the PNRR (Ecological Transition) and with the EU plans.

This plan for the modernization of the food distribution network, together with other very important measures such as the implementation of the circular economy, a fundamental

component of the European strategy to develop a sustainable economy, the new Eco-design and Energy Labeling Regulations in force by this year for refrigerated appliances intended for direct sale, and the new F-Gas on the way, can be the fundamental pillar for achieving the European objectives of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050 required by the European Climate Law.