The Department of Environment and Energy have given RACCA Australia permission to publish the slides from their info sessions on the HFC phase down.
The info sessions “discuss what the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phase down will mean for HFC users, including equipment owners and technicians, and other changes to the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management (OPSGGM) Program to reduce emissions and increase efficiency.”
Three info sessions were held in Sydney and Melbourne on 30 November and in Brisbane on 4 December. More info sessions are expected to be held in 2018 however dates and locations are yet to be confirmed.
The slides show that the info sessions consisted of an overview of the HFC phase down, other changes to the OPSGGM (which include changes affecting importers and domestic end users), and future OPSGGM changes.
The overview of the HFC phase down focuses on why HFCs need to be regulated, what the phase down involves and how it will affect end users.
The overview of the other changes to the OPSGGM focuses on changes to regulated substances, low volume import exemptions, import levy fee changes, changes to reporting requirements, and changes to licensing.
The future OPSGGM changes focus on an awareness program that the Department of Environment and Energy will be developing to increase the level of preventative maintenance, and future changes to regulatory powers, and compliance and enforcement.
The info sessions are being held as the HFC phase down begins 1 January 2018. The Department of Environment and Energy state that the HFC phase down is a “gradual reduction in the maximum amount of HFCs permitted to be imported into Australia.” The HFC phase down was announced by the Federal Government in June 2016, along with other measures to reduce emissions and increase the efficiency of the OPSGGM.
The info sessions are free to attend, however attendees must be registered. RACCA will publish the dates and locations of the 2018 info sessions as soon as they become available.
The slides can be viewed here.
The slides were provided courtesy of the Department of Environment and Energy. Image via Pixabay.