Cabinet okays ratification of Kigali Amendment on phasing down hydrofluorocarbons

The phasing down of HFCs is expected to prevent the emission to the tune of 105 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, which would potentially help avoid a rise in global temperature up to 0.5 degrees Celsius by the year 2100

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave its nod for ratification of the Kigali Amendment for phasing down of ozone layer-depleting hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by India under the Montreal Protocol.

The Parties to the Montreal Protocol initiated this amendment after identifying the growth in the use of HFCs in refrigeration and air-conditioning industries over time(Mohd Zakir/HT File Photo)

Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was adopted by the parties to the Montreal Protocol at its 28th meeting in Kigali, Rwanda in October 2016. The Kigali amendment mandates that parties to the Montreal Protocol phase down production and consumption of HFCs.

The phasing down of HFCs is expected to prevent the emission to the tune of 105 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent of greenhouse gases, which would potentially help avoid a rise in global temperature up to 0.5 degrees Celsius by the year 2100, while continuing to protect the ozone layer, a statement released by the government said.

According to the Kigali amendment, implementation of phasing down HFCs means “there would be scope for domestic manufacturing of equipment as well as alternative non-HFC and low-global warming potential chemicals to enable the industry to transition to the low global warming potential alternatives, as per the agreed HFC phase-down schedule. In addition, there would be opportunities to promote domestic innovation for new generation alternative refrigerants and related technologies,” the release added.

The Parties to the Montreal Protocol initiated this amendment after identifying the growth in the use of HFCs in refrigeration and air-conditioning industries over time. India, which has been a Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer since June 1992, has successfully met the phase-out targets of all the Ozone Depleting Substances as per the Montreal Protocol Schedule, the release stated.