WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) and nine of their colleagues on Friday in urging Secretary of State John Kerry and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to take a strong position to rapidly phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the upcoming negotiations at the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Kigali, Rwanda.

HFCs—which are chemicals commonly used for refrigeration, air conditioning, and aerosol propellants—are hundreds to tens of thousands times more potent greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide, and the increase in the use of HFCs since 1990 poses a serious climate threat. Significantly reducing the use of HFCs could avoid warming up to 0.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, a critical step toward the goals of last year’s international agreement in Paris.

“We urge the U.S. negotiating team to take a strong position at the upcoming talks, and work to adopt an ambitious amendment to the Protocol to phase down the use of HFCs,” the senators wrote. “With countries all over the world now acknowledging the danger of HFCs, we must ensure that all Parties are held to stringent standards regarding a phasedown plan. Specifically, we believe that the global growth of the production and consumption of HFCs should halt as early as possible, and should be followed by a rapid transition to more sustainable alternatives. A successful agreement negotiated in Kigali is critical to help meet the goals agreed to in Paris, and we encourage you to take advantage of this important opportunity to create a more sustainable future.”

Last year, Murphy partnered with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) to introduce the Super Pollutants Act of 2015 – the U.S. Senate’s only bipartisan bill to combat climate change, which aims to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). The legislation will reduce SLCPs in the atmosphere by enabling federal agencies to work with the business and non-profit communities to speed the adoption of SLCP-reducing technologies and policies, while supporting American-led innovations. The bill also calls for U.S. leadership in support of a strong amendment to the Montreal Protocol to transition away from HFCs.

Led by Sen. Franken, Friday’s letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Chris Coons (D-Del).

You can read a copy of the letter below or here.

October 7, 2016

The Honorable John Kerry
Secretary
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

The Honorable Gina McCarthy
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Secretary Kerry and Administrator McCarthy: 

We write to commend the Administration for its continued commitment to fighting climate change, and urge that you take a strong position in the upcoming negotiations at the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Kigali, Rwanda in order to secure the adoption of an ambitious amendment to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

In 1987, governments around the world agreed on the Montreal Protocol and committed to phase out the production of harmful substances responsible for ozone depletion. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are two such substances commonly used in refrigeration and aerosol propellants. Cooperation among the now 197 signatories as well as American and international industries has dramatically reduced the use of ozone depleting substances. Thanks to international collaboration through the Protocol, net ozone depletion has now stopped and ozone regeneration has begun.

The most common replacements for CFCs and HCFCs are HFCs, which are safe for the ozone layer, but are potent drivers of climate change. In fact, HFCs are hundreds to tens of thousands times more potent greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide. Since 1990, the use of HFCs has increased 258 percent, posing a serious climate threat.  

The negotiations in Kigali from October 8-14 provide an opportunity for all Parties to commit to an international phase down of HFCs. Significantly reducing the use of HFCs could avoid 0.5 degrees Celsius of warming by the end of the century. This represents a critical step toward remaining below 2 degrees Celsius temperature increase and meeting the goals of last year’s United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP 21 agreement in Paris. We recognize the broad support from American and international industries for an agreement to reduce HFC emissions. Furthermore, we commend the Administration for leading a coalition of more than 100 countries calling for an ambitious amendment to the Montreal Protocol to fight climate change caused by HFCs. 

To build on this momentum, we urge the U.S. negotiating team to take a strong position at the upcoming talks, and work to adopt an ambitious amendment to the Protocol to phase down the use of HFCs. With countries all over the world now acknowledging the danger of HFCs, we must ensure that all Parties are held to stringent standards regarding a phasedown plan. Specifically, we believe that the global growth of the production and consumption of HFCs should halt as early as possible, and should be followed by a rapid transition to more sustainable alternatives.

A successful agreement negotiated in Kigali is critical to help meet the goals agreed to in Paris, and we encourage you to take advantage of this important opportunity to create a more sustainable future. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely, 

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