Country Transitions

United States

EIA has been actively advocating for the U.S. government to take action on HFCs both internationally and domestically. Our efforts have helped support and build U.S. leadership in international climate negotiations, such as the Montreal Protocol and UNFCCC . As the U.S. continues to lead international efforts towards an HFC amendment, it is critical that the U.S., as one of the largest emitters of HFCs, take immediate actions domestically to phase-out unnecessary uses and emissions of HFCs and to commercialize truly HFC-free climate-friendly alternatives. EIA is working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other regulatory agencies to phase-down HFCs and introduce new HFC-free climate-friendly alternatives into the U.S. market. Learn more by clicking here.

When an amendment to the Montreal Protocol was first filed, China was one of several countries opposed to such an amendment. China’s reasoning for opposition, included lack of available alternatives, slow transitions to HFC-free alternatives in Article 2 (developed) countries, concern about available financing, and interaction between the UNFCCC and the Montreal Protocol. Through EIA’s engagement with the Chinese government and industry, we have helped communicate how these issues can be and have been addressed and overcome. As the largest user and emitter of HFCs in the world, increasing actions in China to phase-down HFCs is critical to mitigating emissions in China and globally.

EIA has been engaging with the Chinese government and industry on the significant opportunity to leapfrog HFCs by transitioning directly to HFC-free alternatives in its current phase-down of ozone-depleting substances.

In July 2015, China published the First Catalogue of Recommended Substitutes for HCFCs. This catalog encourages Chinese industry to transition to natural HFC-free alternatives in all but four types of refrigeration and air conditioning end-uses. Additionally, China and the United States have made several recent agreements on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including phasing-down HFCs. While these actions indicate that progress is being made in China, much work needs to be done to ensure maximum reduction of HFC emissions and a rapid transition to HFC-free technologies in China.

In concert with EIA’s efforts in the United States, EIA is working to advocate for ambitious regulations targeting a phase-down of HFCs in Canada. EIA engages with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) on proposed regulations in order to ensure that the regulations are as strong and effective as possible and effective. In 2015, ECCC made a step towards enacting a Canadian phase-down and prohibition of HFCs by issuing Proposed Regulatory Measures on Hydrofluorocarbons and is moving towards finalizing the proposal in 2017.