US/Canada/Mexico Submit Proposal to Phase down the use of HFCs

The United States government joined with Canada and Mexico in formally submitting a proposal to the Meeting of the Parties on the Montreal Protocol to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by developed nations beginning in 2013, culminating in an 85 percent phase down by 2033.  Developing countries would begin in 2016 and reach an 85 percent phase down by 2043.  
 
The proposal builds on an amendment that was proposed by Mauritius and the Federated States of Micronesia at a Montreal Protocol meeting in July in Geneva.  The US, Canada, and Mexico have requested that the supplemental proposal be discussed at the 21st Meeting of the Parties beginning Nov. 4 in Port Ghalib, Egypt.

The following are key elements of the proposal:

• Lists 20 specified HFCs as a new Annex F to the Protocol (including two substances sometimes referred to as HFOs).
• Recognizes that there are no widely available, economical, efficient alternatives for all HFC applications and therefore utilizes a phase down mechanism, as opposed to a phaseout.
• Uses a baseline of the average of 2004-2006 annual production and consumption of HCFCs and HFCs.
• Establishes provisions for a developed nation (non-Article 5) phase down of production and consumption in a manner similar to the Waxman - Markey legislation that was passed this year by the U.S House of Representatives:
  
  Proposal                                                     Waxman - Markey
  10% in 2013                                                12.5% in 2013
  20% in 2017                                                22.5% in 2017
  30% in 2020                                                33% in 2020
  50% in 2025                                                54% in 2025
  70% in 2029                                                70% in 2029
  85% in 2033                                                85% in 2033
• Both developed and developing nation phase downs include interim steps between initiation and the final plateau step.
• Introduces weighting using Global Warming Potential for HFCs as opposed to the typical Montreal Protocol practice of Ozone Depleting Potential.
• Includes provisions to strictly limit HFC-23 byproduct emissions resulting from the production of HCFCs (R 22).
• Requires licensing of HFC imports and exports, and bans imports and exports to non-party nations.
• Requires reporting on production and consumption of HFCs, as well as on HFC-23 byproduct emissions.