The handbook contains 31 articles by individual authors covering the following issues: policies and legislation on F-gases and related issues (Part 1), safety concerns and means to overcome (Part 2), a technical assessment of natural refrigerants in different applications (air conditioning, commercial and industrial refrigeration and heat pumps) (Part 3), and case studies by manufacturers and end-users providing insights into market developments and examples of successful conversions to natural refrigerants (Part 4).

This project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB). It is the first global project on ODS waste management dedicated to the development and implementation of integrated strategies for reducing the emissions of Ozone-depleting substances containing waste.

Key Messages: The urban population growth, inter-sectoral competition over water resources and climate change are expected roll out concurrently, amplifying water scarcity, energy and treatment costs and health issues in urban areas. Improving efficiency and reducing climate change related risks would be possible through integrated management of water, sewage, solid wastes and storm water management across household to city scales.

Numerous political statements by the world leaders on the urgency of reaching an ambitious climate deal in Copenhagen notwithstanding, the actual discussions at the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) continue to be shrouded by daunting North-South divide, dimming the hope of sealing a deal in December 2009. The negotiating climate has been further queered by the European Union (EU) and the United States (US), which have, in the recent past, made attempts to include certain unilateral trade measures in their domestic climate change regimes.

The handbook contains 31 articles by individual authors covering the following issues: policies and legislation on F-gases and related issues (Part 1), safety concerns and means to overcome (Part 2), a technical assessment of natural refrigerants in different applications (air conditioning, commercial and industrial refrigeration and heat pumps) (Part 3) and case studies by manufacturers and end-users providing insights into market developments and examples of successful conversions to natural refrigerants (Part 4).

The European Union (EU) aims to take a lead in combating climate change and, as such, experiences a higher intensity of carbon leakage and competitiveness concerns. The EU is, however, an important export market for many developing countries, and BCAs implemented by the EU could therefore have a large impact on these countries.