KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 — Singapore will extend emission limits for air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment to large commercial refrigeration systems and vehicle air-conditioning over the next two years, according to The Straits Times.

In a statement today, Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) said the move, which includes a ban on new refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment with high greenhouse gas emissions for these systems, is aimed at helping the country meet its climate targets for 2030.

Refrigeration and air-conditioning systems traditionally use hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases, which can be hundreds to thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide in contributing to global warming.

From July 2027, new centralised commercial refrigerators, commonly used in supermarkets, will be required to use refrigerants with a global warming potential (GWP) capped at 150, in line with standards in Europe and Japan.

According to the report, this means that over a century, these systems can contribute to global warming at a rate of up to 150 times that of carbon dioxide.

From July 2028, the same GWP limits will apply to air-conditioning systems in new passenger cars and light goods vehicles.

The NEA said the later implementation date for vehicles is to give suppliers more time to adjust, as some models using lower-GWP refrigerants are not yet widely available.

It said the limits apply only to new equipment, and existing systems can continue operating until the end of their service life to minimise disruption to businesses.

From July 2027, companies involved in dismantling refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment will also be required to register with NEA and follow formalised disposal practices, The Straits Times reported. 

The measures were developed in consultation with suppliers, users and recycling companies, and build on existing industry practices, NEA said.

Singapore had earlier introduced GWP limits in 2022 for household air-conditioners, refrigerators and water-cooled chillers used in large building cooling systems.

The agency added that the transition away from HFCs is part of a global effort to address climate change, and it will continue reviewing measures based on industry readiness and availability of low-GWP alternatives.