India sticks to its stand on HFC

The Economic Times , Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Correspondent : Vishwa Mohan
NEW DELHI: Resisting pressure from the US and other developed countries, India stuck to its stand of handling HFC — climate-damaging refrigerant gas — issue under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and requested the participating nations to remove the controversial subject from the agenda of the 25th meeting of parties (MOP 25) to the Montreal Protocol on its inaugural day in Bangkok on Monday.

Though the delegates from other countries agreed to retain the agenda item on proposed amendments to the Montreal Protocol, India refused to toe their line.

Indian representatives, including senior officials from the ministry of environment and forests, are learnt to have reiterated New Delhi's stand arguing that the country would not be party to any change which defies the core of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol.

Officials here said that New Delhi would first like to see the outcome of the Indo-US bilateral over the issue. Since the US is the prime mover of an amendment for addressing HFC under the Montreal Protocol, it's important to see what the country has to offer in terms of solutions (economically viable and safe technology) for its phase out, they added.

"We are not rigid. But, we'll have to see whether our industries are ready to move to alternatives that have low global warming potential," said an official, adding that New Delhi would not at all go for any costly alternative as the burden will ultimately be passed on to consumers.

Since HFC is not an ozone-depleting gas, it has been kept out of the Montreal Protocol that currently deals with phasing out ozone depleting substances like hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). The HFC, however, contributes to global warming and its phase-out comes under the Kyoto Protocol, which put the onus of its replacement on developed countries.

The US along with Canada and Mexico moved an amendment for addressing HFCs under the Montreal Protocol, arguing that the phasing out of the ozone-depleting substances has increased the use of HFC, which contributes to global warming.

India, however, refused to be part of it. If HFC comes under the Montreal Protocol, it would be binding on emerging economies, including India, to go for phasing it out in an agreed time-bound legal framework.

India has consistently maintained that the country will not phase out HFC unless there is availability of safe and economically-viable alternatives. New Delhi will go to the crucial climate conference in Warsaw next month with the same stand.

As the stalemate continues, the prominent Delhi-based policy and advocacy group Central for Science and Environment (CSE) urged the Indian government to agree to set up a "contact group" to discuss the management of HFCs where countries can turn in their submissions on how the Montreal Protocol should address control of HFC.

The CSE insisted that any move to shift HFC discussion to the Montreal Protocol should be agreed to by countries under the UNFCCC.

 
SOURCE : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/global-warming/india-sticks-to-its-stand-on-hfc/articleshow/24510166.cms
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us