India Ratified Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol

India Ratified Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol for
phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons:

The Government of India has given its approval for
ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances
that Deplete the Ozone Layer for phase down of Hydroflurocarbons (HFCs).

It adopted by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on
October, 2016 at 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol held at
Kigali, Rwanda.

Key Points:

About:

i. Under the Kigali Amendment; Parties to the Montreal
Protocol will phase down production and consumption of Hydrofluorocarbons,
commonly known as HFCs.

ii. Hydrofluorocarbons were introduced as non-ozone
depleting alternative to Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). While HFCs do not deplete
the stratospheric ozone layer, they have high global warming potential ranging
from 12 to 14,000, which have adverse impact on climate.

iii. Recognizing the growth in use of HFCs, especially in
Refrigeration and Air-conditioning sector the Parties to the Montreal Protocol,
reached agreement at their 28th Meeting of the Parties (MOP) held in October
2016 in Kigali, Rwanda to add HFCs to the list of controlled substances and
approved a timeline for their gradual reduction by 80-85 per cent by the late
2040s.

iv. 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 85% in 2047.

v. All amendments and adjustments of the Montreal Protocol, prior to the Kigali
Amendment have Universal support.

Background:

(i) The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer, is an international environmental treaty for protection of the
Ozone Layer by phasing out the production and consumption of man-made chemicals
referred to as ozone depleting substances (ODS). The stratospheric ozone layer
protects humans: and the environment from harmful levels of ultraviolet
radiation from the sun.

(ii) India became a Party to the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on 19 June 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 phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons.

(iii) India has successfully met the phase out targets of
all the Ozone Depleting Substances as per the Montreal Protocol Schedule.

Benefits:

(i) HFC phasedown is expected to prevent the greenhouse gas
emissions, helping prevent climate change and would benefit the people.

(ii) The industry producing and consuming Hydrofluorocarbons
will be phasing out Hydrofluorocarbons as per the agreed schedule under and
transition to non-HFC and low global warming potential technologies.

Implementation Strategy and Targets:

(i) 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.

(ii) 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.
 

Major Impact, including employment generation potential:

(i) Hydrofluorocarbons. phasedown is expected to prevent the
emission of up to 105 million tonne of carbondioxide 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.

(ii) 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,”.

(iii) HFCs phrase down implementation will involve synergies
with on-going government programmes and schemes of the Government of India with
the objective to maximize the economic arid social co-benefits, besides
environmental gains.

(iv) There would be 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 as per the agreed HFC phase down schedule. In addition,
there would be opportunities to promote domestic innovation for new generation
alternative refrigerants and related technologies.