India inks historic deal to phase down climate-damaging HFCs

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In a landmark step to combat climate change, about 200 nations, including India, struck a legally-binding deal on 14 October after intense negotiations to phase down climate-damaging HFCs that have global warming potential thousand times more than carbon dioxide.

Negotiators and policymakers held meetings since yesterday morning and through the night, having intense deliberations to iron out differences concerning the amendment to the Montreal Protocol to reach the Kigali Amendment to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

The agreement reached by 197 parties on the amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is expected to prevent a global temperature rise of up to 0.5°C by the end of the century, while continuing to protect the ozone layer.

According to the amendment adopted by nations, developed countries will reduce HFCs use first, followed by China along with a large number of countries.

India and nine other countries of South and West Asia will follow suit. Overall, the agreement is expected to reduce HFCs use by 85 per cent by 2045.

The amendment will enter into force on 1 January, 2019, provided that at least 20 instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval of the Amendment have been deposited by states or regional economic integration organisations that are parties to the Montreal Protocol on substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

"We cared for our development, industrial interest and at the same time the interest of the country," Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave, who attended the high-level segment of the conference here, said.

-PTI