GS3 🌿 Environment & Ecology

Kigali Amendment

/kɪˈɡɑːli əˈmɛndmənt/

An amendment to the Montreal Protocol adopted on 15 October 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda, mandating a global phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 80-85% by the late 2040s -- HFCs, while having zero ozone-depleting potential, are extremely potent greenhouse gases with global warming potentials up to 14,800 times that of CO2, making the Kigali Amendment a significant climate change mitigation instrument.

Context & Background

India ratified the Kigali Amendment on 27 September 2021; India belongs to Group 3 (baseline 2024-2026, phase-down starting 2032); India's schedule: 10% reduction by 2032, 20% by 2037, 30% by 2042, 85% by 2047; full implementation could avoid up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100; key challenge for India is the transition to low-GWP alternatives in the rapidly growing refrigeration and air conditioning sector.

UPSC Exam Relevance

GS3 (Environment, Climate Change). Prelims: 2016, Kigali Rwanda, HFC phase-down (not phase-out), India ratified September 2021, India's timeline (2032-2047). Mains: discuss the Kigali Amendment's dual role in ozone protection and climate mitigation; challenges for India's refrigeration industry in transitioning to low-GWP alternatives.