10 Years of the Kigali Amendment: Phasing Down HFCs and India’s Growing Cooling Challenge

Kigali Amendment and Climate Change: Phasing Down HFCs

CONTENT ENGLISH

Why in the News?

• The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol has completed 10 years.
• It was adopted in Kigali, Rwanda, on 15 October 2016 and came into force on 1 January 2019.
• The amendment aims to reduce the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are powerful greenhouse gases.

What is the Kigali Amendment?

• The Montreal Protocol, adopted in 1987, was originally designed to protect the ozone layer by controlling chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
• CFCs damage the ozone layer, which protects life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
• As CFCs were phased out, HFCs became widely used as refrigerants because they do not damage the ozone layer.
• However, many HFCs have a very high global warming potential.
• The Kigali Amendment therefore requires countries to phase down, rather than completely phase out, HFC production and consumption.
• Full implementation could prevent around 0.3°C–0.5°C of global warming by 2100.

CFCs and HFCs

• CFCs: Damage the ozone layer and also contribute to global warming.
• HFCs: Do not deplete the ozone layer but many have a strong warming effect.
• Alternatives such as ammonia, carbon dioxide and certain hydrocarbons can have lower climate impacts, subject to safety and technological requirements.

Why is Cooling Important?

• Cooling contributes to climate change in two ways:
  • Refrigerant leakage: HFCs can escape from air-conditioners, refrigerators and other cooling equipment.
  • Electricity consumption: Cooling equipment requires electricity, which can generate greenhouse gas emissions when produced from fossil fuels.
• More efficient cooling equipment can therefore reduce both electricity consumption and emissions.
• India’s cooling demand is expected to more than double by 2035 under current policies.

India and the Kigali Amendment

• India ratified the Kigali Amendment in 2021.
• India will freeze HFC production and consumption at the agreed baseline in 2028.
• It will reduce HFC use by:
  • 10% below the baseline by 2032
  • Further reductions thereafter
  • 85% reduction by 2047
• Since cooling demand is increasing because of rising temperatures, urbanisation and higher incomes, India needs to improve the efficiency of cooling appliances alongside reducing HFCs.

What More Needs to Be Done?

• Improve energy-efficiency standards for air-conditioners and refrigerators.
• Recover and safely recycle or destroy refrigerants from old equipment.
• Improve servicing practices to prevent refrigerant leakage.
• Provide technology, finance and training to manufacturers and technicians.
• Ensure imported cooling equipment also meets appropriate efficiency standards.

Multilateral Fund

• The Multilateral Fund, established in 1990, provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries under the Montreal Protocol.
• It supports:
  • Technology conversion
  • Training of technicians
  • Capacity building
  • Adoption of safer alternatives
• Such financial assistance is important because developing countries require additional resources to shift towards cleaner technologies.

Why is the Montreal Protocol Considered Successful?

• It established legally binding targets for reducing ozone-depleting substances.
• Targets were strengthened as safer alternatives became available.
• Developing countries received longer timelines and financial assistance.
• Scientific and technical assessments helped governments update the agreement.
• The Kigali Amendment demonstrates how the existing framework can also contribute to climate action.

Way Forward

• The Kigali experience can provide lessons for addressing other short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as methane and black carbon.
• Reducing these pollutants can slow the rate of warming in the near term, while long-term climate action still requires substantial reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.

Practice Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Kigali Amendment:

1. The Kigali Amendment seeks to phase down HFCs because, although they do not deplete the ozone layer, many of them have high global warming potential. 
2. India is required to completely eliminate HFC production and consumption by 2047 under its Kigali commitments. 
3. The Multilateral Fund assists developing countries in meeting their obligations under the Montreal Protocol through measures such as technology conversion and capacity building. 
4. The climate benefits of the Kigali Amendment are limited to reducing emissions from refrigerant leakage, as electricity consumption by cooling equipment is outside its scope.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 3 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 4 only
D. 1, 3 and 4 only 

Answer: A. 

Explanation:

• HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer, but many have high global warming potential. Hence, Statement 1 is Correct.
• India is required to phase down HFC production and consumption, not completely eliminate them. The reduction is scheduled to reach 85% by 2047. Hence, Statement 2 is Incorrect.
• The Multilateral Fund supports developing countries through technology conversion, technician training and capacity building. Hence, Statement 3 is Correct.
• Cooling affects climate through both refrigerant leakage and electricity consumption. Improving energy efficiency can reduce emissions associated with electricity use. Hence, Statement 4 is Incorrect.