The decision will contribute to fighting global climate change.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a resolution “On the adoption by the Russian Federation of an amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer,” paving the way to a substantial decrease in the consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are super greenhouse gases. This will help substantially reduce the anthropogenic impact on the environment by 2036 and ensure Russia’s compliance with obligations arising from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
The Russian Federation has ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which provides for a gradual reduction in the production and consumption of HFCs that have high global warming potential.
“According to the scientific community, if member states deliver on their obligations regarding substances that deplete the ozone layer, by mid-century the ozone layer will have recovered to its 1980 level. Our joint efforts to implement the Montreal Protocol present a successful example of international cooperation to resolve environmental issues at a planetary scale. The emission of greenhouse gases with high global warming potential will be regulated using effective mechanisms. It is only by working together that we can succeed in limiting global warming to 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius by 2050,” Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko said.
The amendment sets forth special terms for the Russian Federation for calculating the baseline HFCs consumption and the timeframe for reducing it. Russia will have to reduce HFCs consumption by 5 percent starting in 2020, by 35 percent starting in 2025, by 70 percent starting in 2029, by 80 percent starting in 2034 and by 85 percent starting in 2036, and thereafter can use HFCs without any restrictions within 15 percent of the baseline consumption level.
“The transition period for phasing out HFCs in the Russian Federation will last for about 20 years, which will enable consumers to shift to alternative refrigerants, including natural ones,” Viktoria Abramchenko pointed out.
The amendment also provides for establishing and implementing a system for licensing the import and export of new, used, recycled and reclaimed controlled substances. The amendment introduces a ban on HFCs import and export for all states that are not parties to the Montreal Protocol effective 1 January 2033. To date, 92 countries have joined the amendment.
For reference:
The Russian Federation is a party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (Vienna, 22 March 1985) and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer to the said Convention (Montreal, 16 September 1987). The 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol took place between 10 and 16 October 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda, resulting in the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The purpose of the amendment is to achieve the targets set forth in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, since its implementation leads to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Hydrofluorocarbons are used in refrigerating and freezing equipment, air conditioning, foaming agents (including in the production of construction materials), fire safety equipment, various aerosols, as well as in metered dose medical inhalers.
Russia has no HFCs production of its own. China is the biggest exporter of HFCs.