Washington, D.C. — Today, the Biden administration announced a final rule to phase down the domestic use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a set of dangerous climate pollutants. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the cumulative benefits of this rule—which will reduce domestic production and consumption of HFCs by 85 percent in the next 15 years—will exceed $272 billion by midcentury. In response, Center for American Progress founder John Podesta released the following statement:
President Joe Biden and his administration took a major step forward today to address climate change. Left unchecked, the super-pollutants targeted by today’s actions would have continued to aid in the destabilization of our climate with an intensity that is 1,000 times greater than carbon dioxide. We are facing a worldwide crisis, and that requires the kind of whole-of-government response that prioritizes public health, American competitiveness, and well-paying union jobs that we’ve seen from this administration. We cannot delay action on climate change any longer—the United States must lead the way in building a clean future.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Ari Drennen at [email protected]