Nearly 200 countries took a historic decision on 15 October in Kigali, Rwanda: the decision to act to halt climate change by reducing HFC emissions, a move that could prevent up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming by the end of this century.
The amendment to the Montreal Protocol adopted in Kigali – hence the name Kigali Amendment – is the largest single contribution the world has made towards keeping the global temperature rise “well below” 2 degrees Celsius, a target agreed at the Paris climate conference last year.
“Last year in Paris we promised to protect the world from the worst effects of climate change. Today we are taking a fundamental step towards that promise,” said Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment. “Much more is at stake than the ozone layer and HFCs. This is a clear statement from all world leaders that the green transformation that began in Paris is irreversible and unstoppable. And it shows that the best investments are those in clean and efficient technologies.”
The so-called “Kigali Amendment” to the Montreal Protocol sets different timetables for developed and developing countries to freeze the production and use of HFC greenhouse gases and then reduce them.
Reduction schedule and funding
MOP 28 President Vincent Biruta gavels the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol
MOP 28 President Vincent Biruta gavels the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol
After seven years of negotiations, the 197 Parties to the Montreal Protocol reached a compromise under which developed countries will begin the HFC phase-down by 2019. Developing countries will follow with a freeze of HFC consumption levels in 2024, although some countries have chosen to begin the consumption freeze in 2028. By the end of 2040 all countries are required to consume no more than 15-20% of their respective baselines.
The countries also agreed to provide adequate funding for the HFC reduction, the cost of which is estimated at billions of dollars globally. The exact amount of additional funding will be agreed at the next Meeting of the Parties in Montreal in 2017. Grants for research into and development of affordable alternatives to HFCs will be the most immediate priority. The Kigali Amendment comes just a few days after two other climate action milestones: the sealing of the international agreement to reduce emissions from aviation and the reaching of the critical mass needed to ratify the Paris climate agreement ( HERE ).
In the view of the German NGO GermanWatch, partnerships should now be set up to allow some regions to make faster reductions than agreed. To implement the agreement, in fact, it is essential that States begin switching to energy-efficient and sustainable technologies as soon as possible. It states: “The Kigali agreement shows that governments are taking the Paris climate agreement seriously. With this same momentum they should now head to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Marrakech in early November. There, efforts will be made to take important steps forward in shaping the Paris convention and in providing financial support to developing countries for climate change mitigation and adaptation.”
The EPA – US Environmental Protection Agency – is satisfied. In a statement, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said: “Although we have seen many significant successes under President Obama’s leadership in the fight against climate change, this day will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most important in our effort to save the planet, the only one we have. It is truly an exciting moment for all of us who have worked so hard to reach this new level of success and, as head of the United States delegation, I could not be more pleased with the outcome of the negotiations and with our collective determination. The outlook for the future of our planet is bright.” ( HERE )
The EIA – Environmental Investigation Agency – is also satisfied, stating: “85% of developing countries have committed to starting the programme in 2024, which is a very significant achievement. According to our initial calculations, this agreement will avoid over 70 billion tonnes of CO2eq emissions by 2050 – which will mean avoiding half a degree of temperature rise.”