Biden submits Kigali Amendment to US Senate

The Biden administration has officially submitted the Kigali Amendment to phase down HFCs to the US Senate for ratification.

In a statement from the White House, on Wednesday 16 November 2021, President Biden said: “The United States has sufficient domestic authority to implement obligations under the Kigali Amendment, including through the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (the “AIM Act”) and the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Protection Agency’s recent rulemakings under the AIM Act establish a domestic HFC allocation system and other provisions that would enable the United States to begin implementation of the provisions of the Kigali Amendment.”

Already ratified by 129 countries, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol commits countries to cut the production and consumption of HFCs by more than 80% over the next 30 years.

“I recommend that the Senate give favorable consideration to the Kigali Amendment and give its advice and consent to ratification at the earliest date,” Biden says.

The White House statement points out that the Kigali Amendment has strong support from US businesses and non-governmental organisations. US ratification, it says, “would advance its interests in remaining a leader in the development and deployment of HFC alternatives”, ensure access to “rapidly growing” overseas refrigeration and cooling markets and stimulate US investment, exports, and job growth.

“Ratification will also ensure the United States continues to have a full voice to represent US economic and environmental interests as implementation of the Kigali Amendment moves forward in coming years,” it says.