Nations to Implement International Ban on HFCs to Minimize Greenhouse Gases

HFCs, used in exchange of CFCs to save the thinning ozone layer, is now getting banned as well. The decision was agreed by participating countries at a summit in Rwanda to resolve the issues of this compound's hazardous effects to the environment.

Under the Montreal Protocol adopted in 1987, chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs were banned due to its persistence and capability to break down ozone particles while hampering its regeneration in the natural setting. In exchange of the CFCs, hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs were introduced in the 1990s. Though saving the planet against CFCs, problems have on the use of HFCs have now emanated decades after.

In an article from Tribune, Vincent Biruta, the Natural Resources Minister of Rwanda, said that they are meeting up with different nations to amend the Montreal Protocol, including HFCs to be banned internationally. For developing countries, they proposed a phase-out by 2040 while first-world countries to totally be HFC-free by 2030.

“We are meeting here in Kigali with unity of purpose: to pass an ambitious amendment to the Protocol that would phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons,” said Biruta.

From an in-depth news of Nation.co, Paula Carbajal, Global Strategist of Greenpeace, said that HFCs are "the fastest-growing greenhouse gas" with an estimated increasing rate of 10 tp 15 percent annually. HFCs capacity can add up to 0.1 degree Celsius within the century and can spike up to 0.5 degree Celsius by 2100.

Since the Paris Agreement including 195 nations regarding establishment of temperature increase ceiling at 2 degree Celsius, controlling HFCs should be included in their action plans to help hit the target.

"If HFC growth is not stopped, it becomes virtually impossible to meet the Paris goals," advocacy group Natural Resource Defense Council's David Doniger emphasized.

One hundred and ninety seven representatives of different countries, which included 40 ministers and US Secretary of State John Kerry, are attending the said summit, hoping for a consensus to be finalized today.