Context: Recently, the Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have released a report stating India has surpassed Montreal Protocol targets.

Key highlights of the Report

• India has phased out the ozone-depleting and climate-warming chemical 1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC 141b).

• Surpassing the 35% phase-out target for Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), India has achieved a 44% reduction.

• India has achieved 33% reduction in emission intensity of the economy in 2019, surpassing the 2030 target.

• The emission intensity of the economy refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted for every unit increase of gross domestic product (GDP).

• These measures have not only helped in safeguarding the ozone layer but also significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

• Cooling is crucial in residential, commercial, cold-chain, transport, and industries.

• Anticipated demand rise due to economic growth, income, population, and urbanization led to the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP).

About India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP)

• ICAP was launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

• It provides a 20-year perspective and outlines actions needed to provide access to sustainable cooling.

Targets under ICAP

1. Reduce cooling demand across sectors by 20-25% by 2037-38,

2. Reduce refrigerant demand by 25-30% by 2037-38,

3. Reduce cooling energy requirements by 25-40% by 2037-38,

4. Recognise “cooling and related areas” as a thrust area of research under National Science and Technology Programme,

5. Training and certification of 100,000 servicing sector technicians by 2022-23, synergizing with Skill India Mission.

About The Montreal Protocol

• The Montreal Protocol is a multilateral environmental agreement that regulates the production and consumption of Ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

• It was adopted on 16 September 1987.

• World Ozone Day is celebrated on this day in remembrance of the adoption of the Montreal Protocol.

• These chemicals damage the stratospheric ozone layer.

• The stratospheric ozone layer protects humans and the environment from harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

• It phases down the consumption and production of the different ODS in a step-wise manner.

• There are different timetables for developed and developing countries (Article 5 countries).

• All parties have specific responsibilities related to the phase-out of the different groups of ODS, control of ODS trade, data reports, license to control ODS imports and exports, etc.

• Developing and developed countries have equal but differentiated responsibilities.

• Both groups of countries have binding, time-targeted, and measurable commitments.

The substances controlled by the treaty are listed as:

• Annexes A (Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons),

• Annexes B (Other halogenated CFCs, Carbon tetrachloride, Methyl chloroform),

• Annexes C (HCFCs),

• Annexes E (Methyl bromide), and

• Annexes F (Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)).

• These protocols also make important contributions to the realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Phase-out of HCFCs - The Montreal Amendment

• HCFCs are gases used in refrigeration and air-conditioning (AC) but they are being phased out since they deplete the ozone layer.

• These are both ODS and powerful greenhouse gases.

• The most commonly used HCFC is nearly 2,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) in terms of its global warming potential (GWP).

• GWP is a measure of how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given time, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO2).

• The larger the GWP, the more that a given gas warms the Earth compared to CO2 over that time.

Phase down of HFCs - The Kigali Amendment

• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), were introduced as non-ozone-depleting alternatives to support the timely phase-out of CFCs and HCFCs.

• These are now used in ACs, refrigerators, aerosols, foams and other products.

• Uncontrolled growth in HFC emissions poses challenges to keep global temperature rise at or below 2°C this century.

• The Parties to the Montreal Protocol reached an agreement at their 28th Meeting of the Parties in 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda to phase down HFCs.