India is proactively working to completely phase out harmful ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) by January 2020, the environment ministry said on September 16.

On World Ozone Day, Minister of State for Environment Babul Supriyo said the ozone cell of the ministry, along with the UN Development Programme, is providing technical and financial assistance to foam manufacturing enterprises which use the substance.

“As part of the HCFC phase-out programme, India has proactively taken the challenge of complete phase-out of HCFC 141b, which is a chemical used by foam manufacturing enterprises, by January 1, 2020,” Supriyo said.

India had in 2017 launched the plan to phase out HCFC under its ultimate goal to end the use of harmful ozone-depleting substances by switching over to non-ozone-depleting and low global warming potential technologies.

Supriyo said his ministry has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) for providing competency enhancement of system houses and MSMEs in the foam manufacturing sector for ensuring smooth and sustainable phase out of HCFC-141b.

Supriyo said India became one of the first countries in the world to launch a comprehensive India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) in March, which has a long-term vision to address the cooling requirement across sectors such as residential and commercial buildings, cold-chain, refrigeration, transport and industries.

He said that ICAP has been recognised globally as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on all countries to develop national cooling action plans.

“It is heartening to note that a step taken by India has led to a global recognition of this important policy initiative, which can help in climate action and achievement of sustainable development goals,” the minister said.

He pointed out that the ICAP has the potential to provide socio-economic and environmental benefits related to reduced refrigerant use, climate change mitigation and sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The ICAP seeks to reduce cooling demand across sectors by 20-25 per cent by 2037-38. It also seeks to reduce cooling energy requirements by 25-40 per cent by 2037-38.

Supriyo also informed that the ministry was implementing a project jointly with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship under the Skill India Mission - Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) to enhance skills and provide certification to 1 lakh refrigeration and air-conditioning service technicians.

“Training and certification of refrigeration and air-conditioning service technicians will allow in securing environmental benefits and livelihood enhancement for technicians,” the ministry said.