Industrial F-gases are rapidly growing super pollutants with massive warming potential

Nature · Published 2 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: A systematic review of 855 studies found that fluorinated greenhouse gases, or F-gases, are the fastest-growing class of emissions globally. These synthetic gases, including HFCs and SF6, are incredibly potent, with some possessing a global warming potential up to 24,000 times greater than carbon dioxide.

The review analyzed over 140,000 sources of evidence to examine the lifecycle of F-gases across sectors like electronics and refrigeration. While the researchers identified various policy and regulatory options to mitigate these impacts, they noted that nearly 40% of F-gas emissions by 2050 may fall outside the scope of current international climate agreements.

Why it matters: Addressing the rapid growth of synthetic F-gases is critical to preventing them from offsetting global climate progress.

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