The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction WhatGas? application is an information and identification tool for refrigerant gases: ozone depleting substances (ODS), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and other alternatives. It is intended to provide a number of stakeholders, including customs officers, Montreal Protocol National Ozone Officers and refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians with a modern, easy-to-use tool that can be accessed via mobile devices to facilitate work in the field, when dealing with or inspecting ODS and alternatives. If the user requires additional information or assistance in identifying a refrigerant gas they are inspecting or that is described in the relevant paperwork, this can be easily obtained by consulting the application.

The application has been updated and improved. It uses standard ODP values and GWP values as specified in the text of the Montreal Protocol; other ozone depleting potential and global warming potential values from the recent reports from the Montreal Protocol technology and scientific expert panels as well as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are indicated when appropriate, with references to sources of all values used. The app includes the new refrigerant mixtures (with ASHRAE approved refrigerant designations) and values for ‘actual GWP’ and ‘Kigali Amendment context GWP’ for pure substances and mixtures (i.e. only including GWP values/components assigned to controlled HFCs). Also, it includes the updated 2022 Harmonized System nomenclature (HS Code) by the World Customs Organization that entered into force on 1 January 2022.

The app is searchable via a variety of methods and provides a wealth of useful information. By entering partial information or browsing the database, the application will provide quick reference information on many aspects of the chemical in question, including: the chemical name and formula; type of chemical, common trade names; various chemical and commodity identifiers (CAS numbers, ASHRAE designations, 2022 HS codes, UN numbers, etc.); as well as other useful information such as flammability and other hazards; the ozone depleting and global warming potentials, and if the chemical is controlled under the Montreal Protocol. The app includes both pure substances and mixtures (blends) and can also be viewed in French and Spanish.

The application forms a part of UNEP OzonAction’s portfolio of activities and tools to assist developing countries. OzonAction provides assistance to various stakeholders in developing countries, including customs officers and technicians, to achieve and maintain compliance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.