Montreal Protocol Amendment Would Phase Down HFCs in India
NEW YORK — India has submitted an amendment proposal to the Montreal Protocol that proposes a plan for phasing down production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). In industrial countries, production and consumption of HFCs should reach 15 percent of their 2013-2015 reference levels by 2035, stated the proposal. Developing countries would have until 2050 to reach the 15 percent level of their 2028-2030 use and consumption reference levels.
In addition to India’s proposal, proposals by Micronesia and North America (the U.S., Canada, and Mexico) will be discussed at this year’s Montreal Protocol open-ended working group meetings, leading up to a full Meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol in November in Dubai. The proposals vary based on a number of factors, including what greenhouse gases should be targeted for reductions, which years’ emissions should be used as a baseline starting point for reductions, funding assistance and technology sharing between more developed and less developed countries, and the final percentage emission reduction goals to be targeted.