Indo-US task force on reducing climate-damaging chemicals

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Feb 24 (PTI) India and the US have decided to
set up a joint task force to examine effective approaches to
reduce use of climate-damaging chemicals known as hydrofluoro-
carbons (HFCs) and encourage development and commercialisation
of alternatives having low global warming potential.
The task force, decision on which was taken last week
during an India-US workshop, is being established in
recognition of the challenges faced by the current phase-out
of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) under the 'Montreal
Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer' (Montreal
Protocol), an official announcement said here.
HFCs, adopted as alternatives to HCFCs and other
ozone-depleting substances, have no ozone-depletion
properties, yet they have high global warming properties.
The task force aims to develop options for reducing
global HFC use.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel Reifsnyder and
India's Joint Secretary (Climate) J M Mauskar will co-chair
the task force, which will include representatives from both
governments as well as industry and scientists and technical
experts, the State Department said.
The options considered by the task force will send clear
policy signals to discourage the use of HFCs and encourage the
development and commercialisation of low global warming
potential alternatives, the State Department said, adding the
options will be designed to provide certainty to the business
community about the future of applicable chemicals and
technologies.
The task force is expected to issue a report in August to
describe the status of HFC alternatives and examine policy
aspects of various approaches that would support a global
reduction in HFC use.
These include national, industry-to-industry and
international options, such as bilateral approaches between
the US and India and the use of existing international
agreements.
For example, last year the United States, with its North
American partners Canada and Mexico, introduced a proposal to
amend the Montreal Protocol to reduce the use of HFCs.
The report also will inform a broader, regional meeting
on HFCs and the 31st Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group
of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, which will be held in
Bangkok from August 1-5, the statement said.