Union Cabinet approves ratification of global agreement to phase-down HFCs and Green House gases by 2047
The benefits HFC phasedown, as listed by the Union cabinet, includes prevention of greenhouse gas emissions in ACs and fridges, therefore helping to prevent climate change.
The Union Cabinet Wednesday approved the ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, a global pact seeking to control ozone-depleting substances, and has officially committed to phasing down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 2047.
“National strategy for phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons as per the applicable phase-down schedule for India will be developed after required consultation with all the industry stakeholders by 2023,” the Central government said in a statement.
Further, talking of its implementation strategy, the government said, “Amendments to the existing legislation framework, the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules to allow appropriate control of the production and consumption of Hydrofluorocarbons to ensure compliance with the Kigali Amendment will be done by mid-2024.”
The HCF phasedown is expected to prevent the emission of up to 105 million tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gases, helping to avoid up to 0.5 degree Celsius of global temperature rise by 2100, while continuing to protect the ozone layer, the government informed in a press release.
Further, as per the government, the implementation of HFC phase-down under the Kigali Amendment through the adoption of low-global warming potential and energy-efficient technologies will achieve energy efficiency gains^ and carbon dioxide emissions reduction – a “climate co-benefit”.
The Cabinet said India would begin making additions to the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules “to allow appropriate control of the production and consumption” of HFCs by mid-2024.
“India will complete its phase down of HFCs in 4 steps from 2032 onwards with cumulative reduction of 10% in 2032, 20% in 2037, 30% in 2042 and 80% in 2047,” the statement added.
The phasedown is also expected to increase the 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.
India became a Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on June 19, 1992, and since then has ratified the amendments to the Montreal Protocol. Though the present approval of the Cabinet, India will be ratifying the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol for the phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons.
