A Breath of Fresh Air

The decision to use the Montreal Protocol to reduce the impact of refrigerants on global warming is a step forward ahead of the Paris climate summit.

The world took a step in the right direction in the early hours of 6 November. Meeting in Dubai, 195 governments decided to pull the management of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the umbrella of the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement that governments signed in 1987 to protect the stratospheric ozone layer from damage by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). HFCs are ozone-friendly replacements for CFCs and are often used as refrigerants. Unfortunately, many are also powerful greenhouse gases, and their use is expected to skyrocket over the coming decades. Although a few governments were successful in delaying negotiation of the arrangement’s details, the agreement to move forward is nonetheless welcome – and long overdue.

The United Nations Environment Programme estimates that HFC emissions are rising roughly 7% annually thanks in part to demand for air conditioners in emerging economies such as Brazil, India and Indonesia. By 2050, global HFC emissions could hit the equivalent of 8.8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, roughly equal to the current carbon emissions of the United States and European Union combined. The decision to regulate HFCs under the Montreal Protocol bodes well for the UN climate summit in Paris, which begins on 30 November. The Montreal Protocol is a well-oiled machine that has already proved its effectiveness and value among both industry and government leaders. In theory, dragging HFCs under its umbrella gives climate negotiators in Paris one less thing to worry about. All told, aggressively regulating HFCs could reduce global warming by an estimated 0.5 °C.

Unfortunately, some governments still seem to be hedging their bets. In particular, India, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait pushed to delay consideration of detailed amendments to the Montreal Protocol until next year. Other global leaders, including US President Barack Obama, who has negotiated agreements on HFCs with leaders in India, China and Pakistan, will need to maintain pressure.

Nature, VOL 527, 11 November 2015