Harper Government leads international efforts to phase down HFCs

Minister Aglukkaq encourages countries to take major step forward at international meeting to limit growth of hydrofluorocarbons

OTTAWA, April 19, 2015 /CNW/ - Today, Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq highlighted Canada's international leadership and collaboration with the United States and Mexico on reducing emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) ahead of an important international meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, that will be fully dedicated to considering the management of these powerful greenhouse gases (GHGs).

On April 15, Canada, the United States and Mexico submitted an amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer to phase down the production and consumption of HFCs, which are potent GHGs increasingly used for refrigeration and air conditioning.

During the Bangkok meeting, Canada, in partnership with Mexico and the United States, will present this amendment and encourage other countries to support a phase-down under the Montreal Protocol.

Estimates show that by 2050 the amendment could result in the reduction of more than 90,000 megatonnes of GHG emissions, which equals about two full years of current global GHGs. 

These efforts build on the leadership role Minister Aglukkaq played at the 20^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 20) in Lima, where she called on all countries to limit the growth of HFCs after announcing that the Government of Canada is moving forward with tough new measures to curb these potent GHGs at home.

Quick Facts

• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are manufactured chemicals introduced into the global market to replace ozone-depleting substances being phased out under the Montreal Protocol. HFCs are not ozone-depleting, but are powerful GHGs.
• The Bangkok meeting is building on efforts Canada made during previous Montreal Protocol meetings, as well as the COP 20 in Lima, Peru, to reduce HFCs internationally.
• Canada supports taking domestic action on HFCs in advance of a comprehensive, international phase-down agreement. Two recent publications in the Canada Gazette, Part I, underpin this commitment:
  • On December 6, 2014, the Government of Canada published a Notice indicating its intent to regulate HFCs; and,
  • Most recently on March 21, 2015, the Government of Canada published the proposed Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations that would introduce a permitting and reporting system for HFCs.
• HFCs could account for up to 19 percent of global GHG emissions by 2050, if no immediate action is taken.
• For more information on Canada's action on climate change, visit the website.

Quote

"Canada continues to lead international efforts to reduce emissions of HFCs and is partnering with the United States and Mexico to phase down the use of these powerful greenhouse gases through the Montreal Protocol. To build on our international leadership, we are moving forward with tough new measures to limit the use of HFCs at home as part of our responsible sector‑by-sector regulatory approach."

– The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council

Associated Links

The Notice of Intent to develop regulate HFCs

Proposed Ozone-depleting Substances and Halocarbon Alternatives Regulations

SOURCE Environment Canada

Ted Laking, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of the Environment, 819-997-1441; Media Relations, Environment Canada, 819-934-8008; Environment Canada's Twitter page; Environment Canada's Facebook page