Mark Vender
The US Senate has ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, joining the 137 other countries that have already ratified the treaty.
The Kigali Amendment calls for a gradual reduction in the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are potent greenhouse gases. Many of these are used as refrigerants in HVAC&R systems.
“The United States is back at the table leading the fight against climate change,” says US President Joe Biden.
“As more countries join the United States in ratifying this amendment, we can prevent up to half a degree Celsius of warming this century, a significant contribution to fighting climate change and protecting communities from more extreme impacts.”
According to the US State Department, environmental and business communities strongly supported the US ratification of the Kigali Amendment.
“[It] will help to ensure US industry remains a global leader in the development, manufacturing, production, and deployment of HFC alternatives,” says the US State Department. “Industry estimates indicate that US ratification will support 33,000 new US manufacturing jobs and generate $12.5 billion in new investments in the US economy over the next decade.”
The move is also expected to provide a boost for American companies that have developed alternatives to HFCs and plan to export technology to overseas markets.
More information is available on the US State Department website.
Image by Aaron Burden at Unsplash.
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