WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency is imposing morestringent limitations on hydrofluorocarbons, extremely powerful greenhouse gases utilized in fridges and air conditioners that contribute to international warming.
A guideline revealed Tuesday will enforce a 40% total decrease in HFCs beginning next year, part of a worldwide phaseout developed to sluggish environment modification. The guideline linesup with a 2020 law that calls for an 85% decrease in production and usage of the climate-damaging chemicals by2036
Officials stated refrigeration and air conditioning systems offered in the United States will release far less HFCs as a outcome of the guideline, the 2nd action in a 15-year phasedown of the chemicals that when controlled refrigeration and cooing devices.
Here’s a appearance at HFCs and what the United States and other nations are doing to limitation their usage.
WHAT ARE HFCs?
Hydrofluorocarbons are extremely powerful greenhouse gases typically utilized in fridges and air conditioners. HFCs produce greenhouse gases that are thousands of times more effective than carbon dioxide. They typically leakage through pipelines or devices that usage compressed refrigerants and are thoughtabout a significant motorist of international warming.
WHAT IS BEING DONE TO LIMIT HFCs?
More than 130 nations, consistingof the United States, haveactually signed a 2016 worldwide arrangement to considerably lower utilize and production of HFCs by 2036.
The Senate validated the so-called Kigali Amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol on ozone contamination last year in a uncommon bipartisan vote. The step needs gettinginvolved countries to stage down production and usage of HFCs by 85% over the next 13 years, as part of a international phaseout designated to sluggish environment modification.
Scientists stated the arrangement, reached in Kigali, Rwanda, might assistance the world prevent a half-degree Celsius of international warming.
Ratification of the change, signed last year