Kigali agreement to curb climate-damaging refrigerants!
Q. In a major effort to curb the use of climate damaging refrigerants HFCs, how many countries agreed in Kigali, Rwandan to phase down the use of super GHGs, in Oct 2016?- Published on 17 Oct 16a. 195
b. 196
c. 197
d. 198
ANSWER: 197
In a major development to curb the use of climate- damaging refrigerants, hydrofluorocarbons, 197 nations on 15th Oct signed an agreement in Kigali, Rwanda to phase down the use of this super GHG.
- As per this agreement, reached after a 5 day gruelling negotiation, developed countries including US, Japan, Canada and West European nations will lower HFC use first, followed by China with a large number of other developing countries
- India and nine other countries of South and West Asia including Pakistan, Iran and Iraq will follow suit
- The agreement is expected to reduce the HFC use by 85 percent by 2045
- As per the agreed schedule, the developed nations led by the US will reduce HFC use by 85 percent by 2036 over a 2011-2013 baseline.
- China is the largest producer of HFCs in the world
- It will reduce HFC use by 80 percent by 2045 over the 2020-2022 baseline
- India will reduce the use of HFCs by 85 percent over the 2024-2026 baseline by 2047
- Freezing year for India will be 2028- it means the country would peak the use of HFCs by 2028 and thereafter start phasing it down
- This agreement reflects the principal of common but differentiated responsibility and an emerging reality of the world where China takes more responsibility to solve global environmental issues
- Developed countries have also agreed to provide enhanced funding support to developing nations under the Kigali deal on the Montreal Protocol
- Unlike the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Montreal Protocol amendment is legally binding.
- The Kigali agreement is the beginning of a long process to replace HFCs with energy efficient and environmentally sound alternatives
