News
A special issue on lifecycle refrigerant management has been published in the academic journal “Global Environmental Research”
Research outcomes involving the Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan (OECC) have been published as a special issue in the academic journal “Global Environmental Research” Vol.29 No.2 (2025), issued by the Association of Internatonal Research Initiatives for Environmental Studies, and are now available online.
Overview of the Special Issue
This special issue, entitled “Accelerating Cooling Action in the Warming Planet: Life Cycle Refrigerant Management as Essential Effort of Climate Change Mitigations”, focuses on fluorinated gases (CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs) used in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector as refrigerant. It examines the importance of lifecycle management (Lifecycle Refrigerant Management: LRM) from multiple perspectives, including international frameworks, national regulatory systems, technologies, support for developing countries, and carbon market mechanisms.
Fluorinated gases have traditionally been regulated for ozone layer protection. However, they have recently gained attention as a priority area for climate change mitigation, with strengthened international efforts as short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) with significantly higher global warming potential than CO₂.
Japan has been at the forefront of lifecycle refrigerant management through efforts by the government and private sector. However, academic dissemination in English has been limited. In this special issue, OECC affiliates contributed as authors and reviewers, presenting the systems and practices of Japan and other Asian countries to an international audience.
OECC’s Key Contributions
- Co-authored multiple papers by Makoto Kato and Akihiro Tamai
- Participation in international collaborative research with researchers and practitioners
- Contribution to the peer-review process
Main Topics Covered in the Special Issue
- Coordination of international frameworks for fluorocarbon management between ozone and climate regimes
- Institutional development and current functions of Japan’s fluorocarbon emissions control policies
- Legal and institutional and inventory systems development in Viet Nam and Indonesia
- Electronic traceability systems supporting lifecycle refrigerant management
- A Destruction technology for fluorocarbons utilizing cement kilns
- Methodologies for carbon market ensuring high environmental integrity
Links to the Journal and Articles
For further details, please refer to the links above.
We also welcome sharing this publication with relevant stakeholders both domestically and internationally.
“Global Environmental Research” is an academic journal published by the Association of International Research Initiatives for Environmental Studies, which is a member association of OECC.
