The use of the powerful greenhouse gas hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) was the lowest in the EU last year in terms of their global warming effect since 2007.

A new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) reveals consumption of HFCs, most commonly used in fridges and air conditioners, was already 14% below the EU’s obligation for 2019.

That’s under the Montreal Protocol’s Kigali Agreement, which was agreed by more than 150 nations across the globe last year.

HFCs are a set of fluorinated gases (F-gases) with a high global warming potential that is significantly contributing to climate change.

F-gases, mostly HFCs – more than 90% – accounted for around 3% of overall greenhouse gas emissions in the EU in 2015, the first year of declining F-gases emissions in 15 years.

The EEA however expects large reductions in HFC use and emissions as a result of a new phase-down measure.