Kigali Amendment

Many industrial products, including refrigerants{{Cite web |last=Chime |first=Vivian |date=September 16, 2022 |title=FG unveils 'cooling action plan' to reduce emissions from refrigerants |url=https://www.thecable.ng/fg-unveils-cooling-action-plan-to-reduce-emissions-from-refrigerants |access-date=September 20, 2022 |website=TheCable}} and other cooling services, use HFCs.{{Cite web |last=Sandefur |first=Jason |date=July 17, 2020 |title=UN Agency Urges Quick Shift to Environmentally Friendly Cooling |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/un-agency-urges-quick-shift-to-environmentally-friendly-cooling/ |access-date=September 20, 2022 |website=Courthouse News Service}}

Originally, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were used in these applications, but the deleterious effect of these gases on the ozone layer was revealed in 1974 by Paul J. Crutzen, Mario Molina, and F. Sherwood Rowland.{{Cite web |last=Roan |first=Shari |date=March 12, 2012 |title=F. Sherwood Rowland dies at 84; UC Irvine professor won Nobel Prize |url=https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2012-mar-12-la-me-sherwood-rowland-20120312-story.html |access-date=September 20, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} The Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987 by the 20 major CFC producers and came into effect in 1989; since 1987, all 197 member states of the United Nations, among others, have ratified the Protocol. HFCs have since largely replaced CFCs.{{Cite web |last=McGrath |first=Matt |date=October 15, 2016 |title=Climate change: 'Monumental' deal to cut HFCs, fastest growing greenhouse gases |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37665529 |access-date=September 20, 2022 |website=BBC News}}

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Although HFCs are harmless to the ozone layer, they are potent greenhouse gases.{{Cite web |last=Benshoff |first=Laura |date=September 20, 2022 |title=The U.S. ratifies treaty to phase down HFCs, gases trapping 1,000x more heat than CO2 |url=https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/2022-09-20/the-u-s-ratifies-treaty-to-phase-down-hfcs-gases-trapping-1-000x-more-heat-than-co2 |access-date=September 22, 2022 |website=Boise State Public Radio}} While their lifespan in the atmosphere is short (10 to 20 years) relative to carbon dioxide ({{CO2}}), HFCs filter infrared radiation much more powerfully. HFCs are therefore thousands of times more heat-trapping than {{CO2}},{{Cite web |last=Denning |first=Scott |author-link=Scott Denning |date=September 22, 2022 |title=US Senate ratifies treaty to phase down climate-warming HFCs from refrigerators and air conditioners – but what will replace them this time? |url=http://theconversation.com/us-senate-ratifies-treaty-to-phase-down-climate-warming-hfcs-from-refrigerators-and-air-conditioners-but-what-will-replace-them-this-time-191172 |access-date=September 22, 2022 |website=The Conversation}} with a 100 year global warming potential (GWP) between 12 on the low end and 14,800 on the high end.{{Cite web |last=Cariaso |first=Bella |date=September 17, 2022 |title=PH begins 3rd stage to phase out ODS |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/09/17/business/green-industries/ph-begins-3rd-stage-to-phase-out-ods/1858750 |access-date=September 22, 2022 |website=The Manila Times}} For comparison, the GWP of carbon dioxide is 1. Eliminating emissions of these gases could significantly lower the effects of global warming and avoid a full 0.5 degree Celsius of warming above preindustrial levels by the end of the century.{{cite journal | vauthors = Velders GJ, Fahey DW, Daniel JS, McFarland M, Andersen SO | title = The large contribution of projected HFC emissions to future climate forcing | journal = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | volume = 106 | issue = 27 | pages = 10949–54 | date = July 2009 | pmid = 19549868 | pmc = 2700150 | doi = 10.1073/pnas.0902817106 | bibcode = 2009PNAS..10610949V | doi-access = free }}

Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol created separate standards for developing countries and non-developing.Montreal Protocol, Article 5 Whether a country was categorized as developing or non-developing depended on individual economic conditions at the time of the agreement or pending special request.{{Cite web|title=Handbook for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer|url=https://ozone.unep.org/sites/default/files/Handbooks/MP-Handbook-2020-English.pdf|page=735}} Because the Protocol was created in the 1980s and countries economic situations have changed, the Kigali Amendment created three updated groups for compliance with the additional terms.Section 5.8, Article 1. "[https://ozone.unep.org/sites/default/files/Handbooks/MP-Handbook-2020-English.pdf Handbook for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer"] (PDF). p.920-922

The first group, which includes the "old" industrialized countries, is committed to reducing the use of HFCs by 45% by 2024 and by 85% by 2036, compared to their use between 2011 and 2013. A second group, which includes China,India and Brazil, is committed to reducing its consumption by 80% by 2045. Finally, this deadline is extended to 2047 for the rest of the countries, including India and a number of countries in the Middle East,"The decision and its annex state that Bahrain, India, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE will use a baseline averaging their calculated levels of HFC consumption for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026, plus 65% of their baseline consumption of HCFCs."  [https://enb.iisd.org/download/pdf/enb19131e.pdf Earth Negotiations Bulletin] (PDF). p10. which are large consumers of air conditioning.

In addition, parties that experience monthly average temperatures over {{convert|35|C|F}} for at least two months per year, over a period of 10 consecutive years, may request a waiver. {{Cite web|title=Decision XXVIII/2: Decision related to the amendment phasing down hydrofluorocarbons|url=https://ozone.unep.org/treaties/montreal-protocol/meetings/twenty-eighth-meeting-parties/decisions/decision-xxviii2-decision-related-amendment-phasing-down-hydrofluorocarbons|at=Appendix II: List of countries operating under the high-ambient-temperature exemption}}{{Efn|These countries are: Algeria, Bahrain, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates.|name=Decision XXVIII/2}} Although Denmark approved the amendment, Greenland is excluded.

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