A new industry study released today and developed by a technical working group co-led by The Chemours Company (Chemours) and Solstice Advanced Materials Inc., finds that refrigerant emissions from automotive air conditioning systems in Europe could be reduced by up to 60%+ annually by 2050, with an average of half of cumulative emissions avoided between 2030 and 2050, through coordinated measures implemented across the full automotive value chain.

The comprehensive research, conducted by a technical working group and informed by stakeholders involving the whole vehicle lifecycle, including leading automotive manufacturers, suppliers, and refrigerant experts, shows that significant reductions can be achieved. For the European market, the study provides detailed lifecycle-based assessments of refrigerant emissions.

The findings highlight the critical role of collaborative industry action and circular economy solutions, including reclamation and recycling, in accelerating Europe’s climate and sustainability goals.

Key Findings:

• 60%+ reduction in annual refrigerant emissions by 2050 compared with current baseline projections
• ≈ 50% cumulative emissions reduction between 2030 and 2050, supporting long term sustainability goals.
• Cost‑neutral outcomes for consumers, as investments are offset by longer component lifetimes and avoided repair costs
• Comparable effectiveness across internal combustion, hybrid, and battery electric vehicles, underscoring system relevance during the EV transition

“This analysis shows that a large share of automotive refrigerant emissions can potentially be avoided using technologies and practices that already exist across today’s value chain,” said Joseph Martinko, President, Thermal & Specialized Solutions at Chemours. “The data reinforces the importance of lifecycle‑based policy approaches that reduce emissions while preserving vehicle performance, affordability, serviceability and supporting the circularity of refrigerants.”

The study’s recommendations are ready for rapid adoption across both conventional combustion engine and electric vehicles, supporting the shift toward a circular economy including end-of-life management through reclamation and recycling programs. These actions are underpinned by broad collaboration across the automotive value chain, paving the way for measurable progress in environmental sustainability and industry best practices. Read the full study here.

This story originally appeared on Chemours.com.