Campaigners call on countries to reach an agreement to begin HFC phase-down
WASHINGTON, D.C. & LONDON– The international community must pass an amendment to begin eliminating hydroflourocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol, said the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) as negotiators from more than 190 countries gathered in Bangkok today for the 25th Meeting of the Parties (MOP).
The MOP to the Montreal Protocol offers a historic opportunity for countries to tackle climate damaging HFC emissions and prevent emissions of more than 100 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) by the middle of the century. HFCs are super greenhouse gases hundreds to thousands of times more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide (CO2) and used primarily in refrigeration and air conditioning despite the fact that climate-friendly alternatives are readily available in the marketplace for most of these uses. It’s estimated that by 2050, HFCs could account for as much as 19 percent of global emissions of CO2.
“The time for ambitious action is now,” said Mark W. Roberts, Senior Counsel and International Policy Advisor with EIA. “In the year in which CO2 levels in the atmosphere passed 400 parts per million, we need urgent measures to prevent an environmental disaster. A global phase out of HFCs is easily the best prospect for immediate action to rein in greenhouse gas emissions.”
After years of political deadlock, the G20 recently agreed to begin discussions on a phase-down of HFCs under the Montreal Protocol. The Montreal Protocol, created to eliminate the chemicals responsible for creating the hole in the ozone layer, is widely regarded as the most successful international environmental agreement; and now, it could be employed to phase-down HFCs and score a major win for the climate.
“There’s a growing chorus of countries calling for the phase-down of HFCs under the Montreal Protocol,” said Danielle Gagne, HFC & Climate Policy Analyst for EIA, “The time to act is now. We urge countries to work together to reach an agreement to finally end the use of these harmful chemicals that are destroying our climate."
While some form of phase-down of HFCs looks increasingly likely, EIA fears it may lack the necessary ambition, allow too long a transition period, and take too long to address the immediate need for actions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Recent changes in technology mean it is now possible to convert entire sectors of the economy to non-HFC technologies.
EIA calls on the Parties of the Montreal Protocol to establish a formal contact group to begin negotiating the terms for a phase-down of HFCs under the Montreal Protocol. They should also send a signal to the UNFCCC and the world that they are prepared to act on HFCs and have the resources necessary to expeditiously implement such a phase-down.