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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 (UNFCCC),

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. In fact, it’s good for India, as CDM will continue here.

Let’s understand the HFC-issue first. HFC is not an ozone-depleting gas, so representatives are demanding that 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. So, this is the case of the controversial subject from the agenda of the 25th meeting of parties (MOP 25) to the Montreal Protocol going on.

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.