The Montreal Protocol has arrived at a consensus to phase down, “super greenhouse gases” known as hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs). This is a critical step towards limiting warming and the single biggest climate action of the year, just weeks before leaders meet in Morocco for international climate talks. The amendment establishes three different timetables for all developed and developing countries to freeze and then reduce their production and use of HFCs. Developed countries have agreed to make their first HFC cuts by 2019. Developed nations have committed to provide additional funds through the Montreal Protocol’s Multilateral Fund. China, Brazil, South Africa, Argentina, and more than 100 other developing countries have committed to freeze their HFC production and use by 2024, and make further reductions thereafter. India, Gulf States, and Pakistan have agreed to make HFC reductions on a slower track.
It is crucial that in the coming years countries work towards transitioning to energy efficient and environment friendly alternatives. The agreed technology review will help with rapid maturity of alternatives and enable countries to strengthen their actions. The decision to reduce HFCs as well as the recent outcome on aviation emissions shows that governments are taking the objective of the Paris Agreement seriously. This is imperative to give a fighting chance for the world to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 C.
Civil societies the world over have hailed this attempt to curb climate-wrecking super-pollutant HFCs and call it the biggest step after the Paris agreement against the widening threats from climate change. And bringing HFCs under the Montreal Protocol sends a clear signal to the global marketplace to start replacing these dangerous chemicals with a new generation of climate-friendly and energy-efficient alternatives.
To enable the switchover to newer and safer natural refrigerants, sufficient funding will be required through the Montreal Protocol’s Multilateral Fund to enable poorer countries to invest in the new technology. It is vital that developed countries also share their progress on technological breakthroughs.
