Biden administration takes aim at climate warming gas
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[September 23, 2021]
By Valerie Volcovici
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday finalized a rule that will
slash the use of a potent climate-warming gas commonly used in
refrigerators and air conditioners by 85% over the next 15 years, a move
that will help halve greenhouse gas emissions this decade.
The rule aims to phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 85%
in a range of common appliances and carries out legislation passed with
bipartisan support in Congress last year. It would make the U.S.
compliant with the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol, a global
treaty to reduce HFCs that the U.S. has not yet ratified.
"It really sends a signal to the rest of the world that we are all in on
climate change," National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy told reporters
on Tuesday evening.
The rule comes with under six weeks to go before the pivotal UN climate
summit in Glasgow. President Joe Biden is rolling out several climate
measures through executive actions, while other key climate proposals
are dependent on Congress passing budget and infrastructure bills.
McCarthy said she does not know when Biden will send the amendment to
the Senate for ratification.
The EPA said the rule is one of the most "consequential" in terms of its
climate impact. Along with additional interagency measures, it can
reduce 4.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent by 2050 —
equal to nearly three years of U.S. power sector emissions at 2019
levels, according to a White House fact sheet.
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Climate activists dressed as penguins sit on refrigerators during a
protest outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels,
March 12, 2009. Environmental organisations are urging Europe not to
weaken the EU's energy efficiency goals relating to 'green'
standards for household goods as EU member states vote on green
products this month. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
The EPA rule creates an allowance allocation and
trading system to reduce HFCs and is reviewing over a dozen
petitions to restrict HFC use in other applications.
The EPA and White House also announced on Thursday that the
administration will take an interagency approach to prevent the
illegal trade, production, use, and sale of HFCs and prepare for
enforcement actions to punish violations of the law.
(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
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