Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol

The Kigali Amendment brings hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, under the Montreal Protocol through a legally binding schedule to reduce their production and consumption. Unlike the ozone-depleting substances originally controlled by the Protocol, HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer, but many are powerful greenhouse gases used in refrigeration, air conditioning and other applications.

Why the Protocol was extended

HFCs became substitutes for ozone-depleting refrigerants such as CFCs and HCFCs. Their growing use created a climate problem even as the original Protocol advanced ozone protection.

• The amendment was adopted at Kigali in 2016 and entered into force on 1 January 2019.
• It complements the Protocol’s ozone-protection measures by controlling the climate impact of replacement chemicals rather than treating HFCs as ozone-depleting substances.

How the control regime covers HFCs

The amendment lists controlled HFCs in Annex F and establishes production and consumption controls through Article 2J. It requires a phased reduction, not the complete elimination of every HFC use.

• Control levels are calculated in carbon dioxide equivalents, using each substance’s global warming potential, so reductions reflect climate impact rather than simply the mass of chemicals.
• Consumption is an accounting measure based on production plus imports minus exports; it does not mean the quantity actually used by households or firms.
• Parties must report relevant data and establish licensing systems for imports and exports of controlled HFCs.
• Baselines combine average HFC production or consumption over specified reference years with a prescribed contribution from HCFC baselines.

Differentiated reduction schedules

The amendment applies differentiated schedules, giving developing countries longer transition periods. Percentage reductions are measured against the applicable baseline.

• Most developed-country parties began reductions in 2019 and must reach an 85% reduction by 2036.
• The first developing-country group freezes levels in 2024 and reaches an 80% reduction by 2045.
• India belongs to the second developing-country group, which freezes levels in 2028 and reaches an 85% reduction by 2047.
• India’s intermediate reduction steps are 10% in 2032, 20% in 2037 and 30% in 2042.

Support for implementation

The Multilateral Fund supports eligible developing countries in meeting their obligations, alongside provisions for technology transfer. Implementation involves moving towards lower-global-warming-potential alternatives while addressing safety, technical suitability and affordability.

• Maintaining or improving cooling equipment’s energy efficiency can complement refrigerant-related mitigation by reducing emissions associated with electricity use.