Large-scale measurements of atmospheric hydrofluoroolefins show that their levels are rising, but the implications are unclear.
Atmospheric data shows hydrofluoroolefins from cooling systems accumulating globally, but environmental impact remains unclear. The pattern echoes CFC dynamics, suggesting future regulatory risk for data center infrastructure and cloud-native sustainability planning.
02 June 2026
Large-scale measurements of atmospheric hydrofluoroolefins show that their levels are rising, but the implications are unclear.
Hydrofluoroolefins, which are used in air conditioning systems and other products, are starting to build up in Earth’s atmosphere. Credit: Detlev Van Ravenswaay/Science Photo Library
A group of little-studied chemical compounds is starting to build up in Earth’s atmosphere, with unclear consequences1.
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