The Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment

The Montreal Protocol (1988) legally mandates the phaseout of the production and use of controlled ozone-depleting substances, setting phaseout obligations on a strictly enforced schedule. Parties must restrict trade of any controlled substance with non-parties, thereby ensuring a market for chemical manufacturers to create alternative refrigerants. In October 2016, the Parties to the Montreal Protocol adopted the Kigali Amendment agreeing the phase down HFCs. Under the Kigali Amendment control schedule, by 2019 developed countries will be required to freeze and immediately reduce production and consumption of HFCs by 10% of their 2011-13 baseline, plus 15% of their baseline consumption of HFCs. By 2036, Parties will phase down by 85% of their baseline.