The U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted 69-27 to ratify an amendment to the Montreal Protocol that would phase down hydrofluorocarbons, a major greenhouse gas, a key step that could have a major impact on combating climate change.
The so-called Kigali amendment calls for the phase-down of HFCs, gases used in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration that are significantly more potent than carbon dioxide in contributing to global warming.
Senior administration officials have told Reuters that worldwide implementation of the amendment could prevent as much as a half degree Celsius in warming by the end of the century. The amendment icludes specific targets and timetables to replace HFCs with climate-friendly alternatives and restricts countries that have ratified the Montreal protocol and its amendments from trading in controlled substances with states that haven't ratified.
"It counts for the global competitive advantage it creates; it counts with the additional exports that will result and it counts for U.S. technology preeminence," said Stephen Yurek, president of trade association the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute .
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
What's in the House, Senate bills overhauling Jan. 6 countThe central idea behind House and Senate bills to reform an arcane federal election law is simple: Congress should not decide presidential elections. jan6 kprc2 click2houston us
Read more »
Ohio Republican Governor, U.S. Senate candidates decline ODC debatesThe ODC planned their gubernatorial debate for Oct. 10, and their U.S. Senate debate for Oct. 12 at the Akron-Summit County Public Library.
Read more »
Senate ratifies treaty to curb emissions of greenhouse gas refrigerantsThe Senate voted on a bipartisan basis Wednesday to approve the Kigali Amendment, a global climate deal that calls for the phasedown of potent greenhouse gas refrigerants known as hydrofluorocarbons.
Read more »
McConnell-linked super PAC pulls out of Senate race in ArizonaThe cuts are another blow to a GOP candidate who has been significantly outraised by his Democratic opponent and outmatched on the airwaves.
Read more »