EIA Applauds EPA Proposal to Ban Dangerous Greenhouse Gases

WASHINGTON, July 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a landmark rule making yesterday, which will pave the way for the elimination of a tier of the most climate-damaging greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the United States. This historic climate proposal will prevent over 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions by 2020 through banning the use of certain hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are super GHGs used in commercial refrigeration, mobile air-conditioning, aerosols, and foams.

This ruling supports President Obama's Climate Action Plan, which called on the EPA to use its authority through the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program to prohibit certain uses of the most harmful HFCs.

"The Environmental Investigation Agency applauds the EPA and the White House for taking concrete action to tackle climate change and fulfilling the steps laid out in the President's Climate Action Plan," said Mark W. Roberts, International Policy Advisor at the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). "Banning the use of dangerous super greenhouse gases like HFCs will help reduce U.S. emissions and send a strong signal to the international community that HFCs can be phased down now."

The EPA ruling follows the announcement this week from the United States and China reaffirming their commitment to reduce emissions of HFCs bilaterally, and the recent EPA proposed rule approving climate-friendly HFC-free chemicals for use in the U.S. market. Both actions fulfill additional key pieces of Obama's Climate Action Plan.

"The issuing of the two new rulemakings sends a clear message that the U.S. is serious about addressing climate change domestically, as well as internationally." said Danielle Gagne, HFC & Climate Policy Analyst at EIA. "These rules come at a pivotal time, as the Parties of the Montreal Protocol meet this week to once again discuss an international phase down of HFCs."

EIA hopes this significant announcement will reinvigorate the discussions on how countries can work internationally to eliminate these climate-destroying gases through the Montreal Protocol.

Contact:
Maggie Dewane, Press Officer, (202) 483-6621, [email protected]

SOURCE Environmental Investigation Agency