While a majority of nations support an HFC phase-down, progress has been blocked by a handful of countries for tactical reasons.
HFC emissions are the fastest growing source of GHG emissions worldwide, and are predicted to spiral to 5.5-8.8 gigatonnes of CO2-equivalent by 2050, equivalent to 9-19 per cent of global CO2 emissions under a business-as-usual scenario. The elimination of HFCs would represent a significant step forward by the international community at a time when the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly hard to ignore and concrete action on mitigation has stalled.
EIA Global Environment Campaigner Natasha Hurley said: "No-one underestimates the scale of the challenge facing the international community today. As recent events have shown, climate change is already wreaking havoc worldwide. But here in Doha, Ministers have a unique opportunity to kick-start a process that will prevent emissions of 2.2 gigatonnes CO2-equivalent (Gt CO2e) by 2020 and almost 100 Gt CO2e by 2050. We are looking to them to make a clear statement at this conference urging the Montreal Protocol to lead a phase-out of the use and production of HFCs, recognising that emissions of HFCs will still be included in the greenhouse gases covered by the UNFCCC."
A year ago, countries agreed to negotiate a new globally binding climate agreement by 2015. However, the new treaty will only enter into effect in 2020. A recent report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) highlighted an 8-13 Gt CO2e gap between the pledges undertaken by countries so far and the emissions reductions needed to limit global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels in the period leading up to 2020.
EIA Atmospheric Policy Analyst Danielle Gagne said: "An 8-13 gigatonne gap between pledges made and what is needed to stay below two degrees Celsius must be addressed at CoP18. One of the best, most cost-effective, and immediate ways to address this gap is for Ministers to pledge to phase out these super greenhouse gases by sending a clear signal urging the Montreal Protocol to control the production and consumption of HFCs."