Mains issueGS-3News & Analysis15 October 2026

Kigali Amendment, HFC Phase-down, and India's Sustainable Cooling Strategy

India's strategic choices in phasing down HFCs and improving cooling efficiency under the Kigali Amendment are crucial for its climate goals, energy security, and offer a model for addressing other short-lived climate pollutants through effective international cooperation.

Source: indianexpress.comOriginal report

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Why now

The 10th anniversary of the Kigali Amendment, coupled with rapidly rising global cooling demand, makes India's choices in phasing down HFCs and improving cooling efficiency critical for achieving climate goals and ensuring sustainable development.

Core issue

The article discusses the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which aims to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to prevent up to 0.5°C of global warming by 2100. It highlights the amendment's 10th anniversary, the rising global demand for cooling, and India's critical role in its implementation. The article explains the need for the Kigali Amendment as a successor to the Montreal Protocol (which phased out ozone-depleting CFCs), details India's commitments and deadlines, and emphasizes the dual benefit of combining HFC phase-down with improved energy efficiency in cooling equipment. It also examines the effectiveness of the Montreal Protocol's model, including the Multilateral Fund, and suggests its applicability for addressing other short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) like methane and black carbon.

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