Minister Aglukkaq encourages countries to take major step forward at international meeting to limit growth of hydrofluorocarbons
April 19, 2015 – Ottawa, Ontario – Environment Canada
Today, Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq highlighted Canada’s international leadership and collaboration with the United States and Mexico on reducing emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) ahead of an important international meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, that will be fully dedicated to considering the management of these powerful greenhouse gases (GHGs).
On April 15, Canada, the United States and Mexico submitted an amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer to phase down the production and consumption of HFCs, which are potent GHGs increasingly used for refrigeration and air conditioning.
During the Bangkok meeting, Canada, in partnership with Mexico and the United States, will present this amendment and encourage other countries to support a phase-down under the Montreal Protocol.
Estimates show that by 2050 the amendment could result in the reduction of more than 90,000 megatonnes of GHG emissions, which equals about two full years of current global GHGs.
These efforts build on the leadership role Minister Aglukkaq played at the 20th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 20) in Lima, where she called on all countries to limit the growth of HFCs after announcing that the Government of Canada is moving forward with tough new measures to curb these potent GHGs at home.
Ted Laking
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
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