The international conference to only focus on real-life experience with natural refrigerants has opened its registration today. Benefit from an early bird fee until 24 July to listen to high-level speakers from the UN, European Commission, US EPA, and Greenpeace on the policy side, as well as to industry experts and the international finance community.

From 19-20 October, key players from policy, industry, and the finance community will gather in Brussels to issue clear statements regarding the use of natural refrigerants in heating, cooling and refrigeration solutions. Atmosphere 2009 – set to become a major stepping stone on the road towards Post-Kyoto Protocol Discussions end-December – has invited the leading experts in their respective fields to present real-life case studies that can raise awareness of the huge potential natural working fluids can hold as replacements for ozone-depleting and/or high global warming substances.

The Monday morning will feature keynote speeches from policy leaders, including Rajendra Shende, UNEP Ozone Action Branch, and Lambert Kuijpers, TEAP Co-Chair. Thomas Verheye, representing the European Commission, will summarise European policy initiatives on refrigerant choices, whereas the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Danish EPA and the German Environment Agency will add their view from a national perspective.

Hydrocarbons sessions

As one of three workshop sessions on Monday afternoon, the presentations on hydrocarbons will highlight the following topics (draft titles):

• Replacing R22 with Hydrocarbons: Practical Experience – Nicholas Cox, Earthcare Products
• Hydrocarbons for Domestic Appliances – Jürgen Süss, Danfoss
• Retailer Experience with Hydrocarbons – Alan Gerrard, Unilever (tbc)
• (Micro)Compressors for automotive and light-commercial applications – Marino Bassi, Embraco (tbc)
• MACs using Hydrocarbons – Ross Bradshaw, HyChill (tbc)
• Australian Experience with HCs and R744 – Brent Hoare, Green Cooling Association

Sunday event: Recommendations for Copenhagen

On the Sunday before the official conference start, interested individuals can join an informal get-together to witness the presentation of the “Recommendations for Copenhagen”. The position paper in favour of natural refrigerants is going to be presented to decision makers at the Copenhagen discussions in December. The draft version presented on Sunday is open to input from stakeholders before it is finalised. Participation is free.

Enjoy Brussels

For those that have not yet been to Brussels, Atmosphere 2009 has organised a historic walking tour “Brussels through the Ages” on Sunday morning, as well as a “Belgium Beer Review” including beer tasting and a typical Belgian meal in the afternoon. The informal presentation and discussion will be followed by a cocktail reception on Sunday evening, located in the Amigo Bar of the conference venue Hotel Amigo right “In the heart of Brussels”.

Please don’t forget to register for the social activities as early as possible, as they are, similar to the conference itself, subject to a very limited capacity.

Get the early bird fee

Until 24 July, you can benefit from an early bird fee of €100 less than the standard fee for the basic conference package, including workshop selection, refreshments and meals, and a 3-course networking dinner on Monday evening. If you register today you will also make sure that you can participate in the workshop of your choice, as well as the Sunday informal discussion (free) and the Cocktail Reception.

Contact Information

If you would like to contact shecco for any enquiries, you may send a request to Marc Chasserot directly.