If countries come to an agreement, it will culminate in amendment of the Montreal Protocol, resulting in the switch over to refrigerant gases that neither depletes the ozone layer nor contribute to global warming. HFCs, the chemical gas that countries agreed to switch to in 1987, does not harm the earth’s ozone layer however these gases trap heat at as much as 16000 times that carbon dioxide does. Projections on the use of HFC by the UNEP indicate that by 2050, these refrigerant gases will contribute to a rise in global average temperatures by as much as 0.5 degrees Celsius. The phase down of the use of HFCs by 2050 is seen as a low hanging fruit that could help countries secure the Paris Agreement goal of keeping temperature rise above the pre-industrial levels to well below 2 degrees Celsius.

While all countries agree on the need to move away from the use of these heat trapping refrigerant gases, differences persist on the time table, including the levels of production and use of HFCs from which the reductions will be mapped and the start date for the phase down, as well as the availability and nature of financial support for developing countries to make the transition to alternative refrigerant gases.

India has said that it will approach the week-long negotiations with “an open and constructive mindset”, and that it will work with all nations in a “positive manner”.

Developed countries have argued that the phase down should begin as early as 2021. The industrialised countries are supported by sections of developing countries particularly, the small island states, that are at the forefront of dealing with rising sea levels on account of rising global temperatures. Developing countries like India and China would like the reduction schedule to begin later when viable alternatives to HFCs would be available. In its proposal of the amendment, India suggested that the reduction or phase down for developing countries should begin in 2031.

Securing an agreement will require all countries to reconsider their stated positions. India has signaled its intention to work towards ensuring a viable pathway. In a statement ahead of Monday’s opening of the 28th round of meetings of the Montreal Protocol , India said that it was willing to be “flexible” in order “to reach a just and equitable HFC amendment that balances climate ambitions with the development and economic imperatives of our people.”

Focused on seizing the political momentum from the early entry into force of the Paris Agreement, environmental groups are pushing for countries to agree to begin the phase down time table as early as possible. Arguing that by agreeing to start the clock on the phase down of HFCs will help countries slow down the rise in temperatures at potentially lower costs than it would if the implementation of the reduction plan were left for a later date. “Each year that an HFC freeze is delayed allows massive amounts of additional climate pollution – equivalent to billions of tons of carbon dioxide – to be produced, used, and eventually released into the atmosphere. An early HFC freeze and phase-down is possibly the easiest way to cut climate pollution,” said David Doniger of the Washington-based think tank National Resources Defense Council.

Highlighting its commitment to work with all countries to tackle climate change, India stressed that as a developing country, it supports “responsible actions toward an agreement that is for the good of all”.