The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced the release of a Request for Information (RFI) to help in the development of an assessment report that will specify how to transition California's economy, by sector, away from HFCs to ultra-low GWP and/or no-GWP alternatives no later than 2035. The hope is to achieve this goal through maximizing recovery and reclamation of high-GWP HFCs and increasing the adoption of ultra-low-GWP and no-GWP alternatives, as directed by Senate Bill (SB) 1206 (2022).

California has been leading the charge to reduce HFC emissions through legislative and regulatory action, starting with SB 1383, which the legislature enacted in 2016 to specifically mandate a 40% reduction in HFC emissions below 2013 levels by 2030. In addition to the assessment report, SB 1206 prohibits the sale of newly produced high-GWP HFCs -- starting 2025, 2030, and 2033, newly produced HFCs with a GWP greater than 2200, 1500 and 750, respectively, will no longer be available to purchase.

SB 1206 also requires the use of reclaimed HFCs to promote the recovery of HFCs, thereby preventing the release or leakage of high-GWP HFCs and complementing the federal HFC phasedown implemented through the AIM Act. CARB has adopted various regulations to reduce HFC emissions, such as the Refrigerant Management Program and GWP prohibitions on refrigeration, air conditioning equipment, and other end-use sectors among other measures.

Despite current rules, California’s long-term climate mandates require CARB to take further actions to reduce HFC emissions. This RFI will help inform CARB staff in their completion of an assessment report specifying how to transition California’s economy, by sector, away from HFCs and to ultra-low-GWP or no-GWP alternatives no later than 2035.