The European F-Gas Regulation significantly tightens the requirements for the handling of fluorinated greenhouse gases and sets clear standards for climate protection. It regulates the entire life cycle of refrigerants – from use and system operation through to recycling, qualification and documentation. The key assessment criterion is the global warming potential (GWP), which describes a substance’s climate impact in comparison to CO₂. System operators bear a particular responsibility to prevent emissions and consistently comply with legal requirements. A key element of the regulation is the phase-down mechanism, which provides for a gradual reduction of particularly climate-damaging substances. With increasing bans on refrigerants with a high GWP, alternative solutions such as CO₂, propane and ammonia are coming more into focus. However, the transition always requires an individual technical and economic assessment.