On 9 May 2011, the United States, Canada, and Mexico submitted a joint proposal to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, adding to the previously submitted phase-down proposal by the Federated States of Micronesia.
Both amendment proposals will be considered at the 23rd Meeting of the Montreal Protocol Parties in November 2011 in Bali, where developed and developing countries will endeavor to reach consensus.
91 countries - including US, Canada, Mexico and the Federal States of Micronesia, out of the total of 196 that have ratified the Montreal Protocol signaled their agreement to taking action on HFCs already last year at the 22nd Meeting of the Parties. They signed a declaration that recognised that the projected increase in the use of HFCs poses a major challenge for the world’s climate system, and asserted their intent to pursue further action to transition the world to environmentally sound alternatives to ozone-depleting substances.
However, previous attempts to regulate HFCs though the Montreal Protocol have been blocked by major HFCs producing countries such as China, India and Brazil. More recently India has appeared more open to the prospect, while the country’s environment minister Jairam Ramesh stated that “with international financing and technology support, there is no reason why India should not lead in the phase-down of HFCs”.