WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement after the European Parliament voted 644 to 19 in favor of a European Commission proposal to phase down the use of climate-warming hydrofluorocarbons (known as HFCs) by 79% below average 2009-2012 levels by 2030:

I’m heartened to see the European Union take another step toward bold action on phasing down HFCs. HFC-134a, one of the most popular HFC blends, warms the climate at a rate 1,300 times that of carbon dioxide. As the demand for air-conditioning grows in the developing world, we need to make sure that the climate doesn’t pay a price in the process. We can’t tackle the problem of climate change without also addressing the growth in these refrigerant gases, and I hope the EU’s action will help drive progress in negotiations to amend the Montreal Protocol.

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