• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its nod for ratification of the Kigali Amendment for phase down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by India under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

• The approval for HFC phase down which is expected to prevent greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the Montreal Protocol?

• The ozone layer is a natural layer of gas in the upper atmosphere that protects humans and other living things from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

• Although ozone is present in small concentrations throughout the atmosphere, most (around 90 per cent) exists in the stratosphere, a layer 10 to 50 kilometres above the Earth’s surface. 

• Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international environmental treaty adopted in 1987 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 Montreal Protocol sits under the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. The Vienna Convention was adopted in 1985 following international discussion of scientific discoveries in the 1970s and 1980s highlighting the adverse effect of human activity on ozone levels in the stratosphere and the discovery of the ‘ozone hole’.

• The Montreal Protocol is signed by over 190 Parties. In January 2012, South Sudan ratified the Montreal Protocol, making it the first international environmental treaty to achieve universal ratification — a truly remarkable effort that reflects the universal acceptance and success of the agreement.

• The Parties to the Protocol meet once in a year to make decisions aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of the agreement.

• In October 2016, during the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in Kigali (in Rwanda), more than 170 countries agreed to amend the Protocol. The Kigali Amendment aims for the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by cutting their production and consumption. 

• India became a Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on June 19, 1992 and since then has ratified the amendments to the Montreal Protocol. 

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

What are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)?

• Hydrofluorocarbons were introduced as non-ozone depleting alternative to chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) such as R-12 and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) such as R-21.

• While HFCs do not deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, they have high global warming potential, which have adverse impact on climate.

• Recognising 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 late 2040s.

• In January 2020, India successfully completed the phasing out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141b, used by foam manufacturing companies. HCFC-141b was used mainly as a blowing agent in the production of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams.

How will the strategy be implemented?

• In order to comply with the requirements of the Montreal Protocol, the environment ministry has brought out comprehensive Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for phasing out various ODSs. The ODS Rules have been amended in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2014 and 2019 to implement ODS phase-out activities in the country.

• Amendments to the existing legislation framework to allow appropriate control of the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons to ensure compliance with the Kigali Amendment will be done by mid-2024.

• A national strategy for phase down of hydrofluorocarbons will be developed after required consultation with all the industry stakeholders by 2023.

• India will complete its phase down of HFCs in four steps from 2032 onwards with cumulative reduction of 10 per cent in 2032, 20 per cent in 2037, 30 per cent in 2042 and 80 per cent in 2047.

What will be the benefits with this plan?

• The phase down of HFCs is expected to prevent the emission of up to 105 million tonnes of carbon dioxide 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.

• Implementation of HFC phase down through the adoption of low-global warming potential and energy-efficient technologies will achieve energy efficiency gains and carbon dioxide emissions reduction.

• 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.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store