The Kigali amendment: A solution to global warming

August 11, 2019

HFCs are chemicals that are primarily used in ACs and have a strong greenhouse effect. © UNEP

As the planet is getting warmer the need for using Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (AC) units is increasing. This is respectively increasing the need for electricity and upsurging the consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which are used in Refrigeration and AC. The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol was adopted to reduce HFCs consumption.

The Montreal Protocol aiming to stop the production and consumption of gasses destroying the ozone layer was adopted in 1987. Later in the following years of continuous consultations, Governments worked together to negotiate and reach a deal to reduce the emissions of powerful greenhouse gases in a move that could prevent up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming by the end of this century and protect the ozone layer.  

HFCs are chemicals that are primarily used in Refrigeration, ACs and foam industry which have a strong greenhouse effect. In October 2016, the Kigali Amendment was added to the Montreal Protocol to primarily phase-down the production and consumption of HFCs which will keep the global temperature rise "well below" 2 degrees Celsius. The Kigali amendment promises to reach higher energy efficiency in relevant fields of industry and to reduce global warming though it should be localized according to the context of implementation.