Schatz: HFC Phasedown A Win In Fight Against Climate Change

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chair of the Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, today commended the inclusion of legislation to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the annual spending deal. Commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners, HFCs are especially potent greenhouse gases, trapping thousands of times as much heat in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

“This bill is a huge win in our fight against climate change. Specifically, the agreement to phase down HFCs will have a real, measurable impact in reducing warming. This agreement proves what we know to be true: climate action is good for businesses and innovation. We still have a lot more work to do, but hopefully this sets the stage for the bigger, bolder policies we’ll need to address this planetary crisis,” said Senator Schatz.

The provision included in the spending deal will phase down HFCs by 85 percent by 2035 – in line with the Kigali Amendment timeline. It also protects a small number of uses (less than 5 percent of the current market) for which no viable HFC alternatives currently exist.

Senator Schatz, a cosponsor of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, has been a leading voice for climate action and the need to phase down HFCs.

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