Kigali Amendment at 10: India’s Challenge as Demand for Cooling Rises

Context

Ten years after the adoption of the Kigali Amendment in 2016, the growing demand for air conditioning and refrigeration has highlighted the challenge of reducing hydrofluorocarbon emissions while meeting India’s increasing cooling requirements.

Key Highlights

• Phasedown of HFCs: The Kigali Amendment aims to gradually reduce the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), powerful greenhouse gases widely used in cooling appliances.
• Ozone Layer Protection: The Montreal Protocol initially focused on phasing out ozone depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The Kigali Amendment extends its climate benefits by targeting HFCs.
• Increasing Demand for Cooling: Rising temperatures, rapid urbanisation, higher incomes and frequent heatwaves are driving the demand for air conditioners and refrigeration systems in India.
• Energy Efficiency: Replacing HFCs with refrigerants having lower global warming potential must be accompanied by the adoption of energy efficient appliances to reduce electricity consumption and indirect emissions.
• Transition Challenges: Developing countries require adequate financial assistance, technology transfer, skilled technician training and sufficient time to replace existing equipment and refrigerants safely.

Key Concepts

• Kigali Amendment: An amendment to the Montreal Protocol adopted in 2016 that provides for the gradual phase down of hydrofluorocarbons.
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs): Synthetic chemicals used in refrigeration and air conditioning. Although they generally do not deplete the ozone layer, they can contribute significantly to global warming.
• Global Warming Potential (GWP): A measure of the amount of heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere relative to carbon dioxide over a specified period.
• Montreal Protocol: An international agreement adopted in 1987 to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances.