December 5, 2014 – Ottawa, Ontario – Environment Canada
Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced today the Government of Canada is taking action to reduce emissions from the world’s most potent and fastest-growing greenhouse gases (GHGs). Environment Canada is moving forward with the development of regulatory measures to limit the growth of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are expected to increase substantially in the next 10 to 15 years, if left unchecked. This announcement follows Minister Aglukkaq’s commitment earlier this year at the United Nations Climate Summit that Canada would address HFC emissions.
The Government will publish a Notice of Intent to Regulate Hydrofluorocarbons in the Canada Gazette on December 6, outlining the scope of the proposed regulatory measures for these potent GHGs that are thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA, 1999), the Government of Canada proposes to regulate the manufacture and import of commercial refrigeration systems, foam-blowing agents, vehicle air-conditioning units and consumer aerosols that contain specific HFCs.
Canada is also taking a leadership role to reduce HFCs internationally, and intends to encourage other countries to follow its lead while in Lima for COP20. Further, in November, Parties to the Montreal Protocol considered a proposal put forward by Canada, the United States and Mexico to phase down HFCs. The Parties of the Montreal Protocol will hold an additional meeting in 2015, where Canada intends to take a leadership role in encouraging countries to engage constructively in discussions on issues related to HFC management, including further consideration of phase-down options. Canada believes it is important for countries to take domestic action now on HFCs in advance of a comprehensive, global phase down agreement.
The introduction of domestic regulatory measures for HFCs is the latest step in the Government of Canada’s sector-by-sector approach to reducing GHG emissions. For more information on Canada’s action on climate change, visit www.climatechange.gc.ca.
The Notice of Intent may be found at Canada Gazette website.
Ted Laking
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
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