GENEVA—Parties to the Montreal Protocol made concrete progress on HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) in an Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG 37) meeting this week in Geneva, but the pace of negotiations remains frustratingly slow. Parties agreed to schedule additional intersessional work to move the negotiations forward before the next OEWG in July, raising hopes that an ambitious global […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed rulemaking to prohibit a number of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in many applications for stationary refrigeration, foam blowing, and fire suppression. This proposal, issued under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, recommends a 2021 deadline for transitioning several refrigeration applications including domestic refrigerators, cold […]
DUBAI—In the early hours of November 6, the 27th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol ended negotiations with a clear agreement to address the consumption and production of HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), but stopped short of a legal amendment to the Protocol to phase down the gases. “The Montreal Protocol has almost 30 years of […]
DUBAI — Today the world’s governments agreed to start formal negotiations to phase down the production and consumption of HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), potent greenhouse gases used primarily in refrigeration and air-conditioning. At an extended preparatory meeting of the Montreal Protocol, Parties agreed a mandate for a contact group to begin deliberations at the 27th Meeting of the […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday President Obama announced several new executive actions and private-sector commitments that aim to mitigate and reduce emissions of potent super greenhouse gases, known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed rulemaking that is designed to reduce the emissions of HFCs in systems currently using these climate-damaging […]
PARIS— After a five day preparatory meeting in Paris, Parties to the Montreal Protocol failed to finalize a formal negotiation process for discussions on hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) but agreed to hold an additional meeting prior to the Dubai Meeting of the Parties, which takes place early November. Support for tackling HFCs under the Ozone Convention has […]