Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Context:
In line with its international commitments to mitigate climate change, the Union Environment Ministry has directed all Central and State authorities to stop granting fresh environmental clearances (EC) for new or additional Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) production capacity beyond December 31, 2027.
Any plant applying before this deadline must submit an undertaking guaranteeing it will be fully operational by that date.
The Montreal Protocol:
Adopted on September 16, 1987, it is a landmark multilateral environmental agreement designed to protect the Earth's stratospheric ozone layer.
It regulates the production and consumption of nearly 100 man-made chemicals known as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).
It is considered one of the most successful environmental agreements in history and is one of the rare treaties to achieve universal ratification.
The protocol phases down ODS in a step-wise manner.
It operates on the principle of equal but differentiated responsibilities, providing different phase-out timetables for developed and developing nations ("Article 5 countries").
Under this framework, India successfully achieved a complete ban on Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by 2010.
The Kigali Amendment and HFCs:
Initially, HFCs were widely introduced as replacements for ozone-depleting CFCs. However, they were later recognized as highly potent, planet-warming greenhouse gases.
The Amendment:
To address this, the Kigali Amendment was agreed upon in Rwanda in 2016, specifically targeting the phase-down of these controlled HFC applications.
India formally ratified this amendment in 2021.
India's Phase-Down Schedule:
India's official phase-down schedule will commence from January 1, 2028.
The regulatory roadmap mandates a 10% reduction in HFCs by 2032, progressively scaling up to an 85% reduction by 2047.
The government will amend the Ozone Depleting Substances Rules, 2000, to formally align domestic regulations with the Kigali Amendment's schedule.