Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Senate voted to ratify the Kigali Amendment, approving its first climate treaty in decades. This global agreement, developed in 2016, seeks to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a climate-polluting synthetic chemical commonly used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and insulating foams. With today’s vote, the United States joins 137 other nations that have ratified the Kigali Amendment, including India, China, and Japan, as well as the European Union. This action follows passage of several major pieces of legislation that support clean energy manufacturing in the United States. In response, Christy Goldfuss, senior vice president for Energy and Environment Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
This is a major win for our economy as well as a huge step in the global fight against climate change. The global phase-down of HFCs will help protect Americans from the devastating and ever-accelerating impacts of climate change, reducing global warming by half a degree Celsius by 2100. It offers a major boost to U.S. manufacturers that are leading the way in producing HFC alternatives. This lets American companies deliver on the growing global demand for innovative cooling equipment, creating 33,000 direct manufacturing jobs in the next five years. In addition, regulation of HFCs will encourage U.S. manufacturers to continue to invest in innovation.
This is the latest in a line of legislative victories for the growing clean energy industry from Congress and the Biden administration, providing benefits to both American workers and the climate.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].