CSE holds workshop on how to phase out HFCs at Montreal Protocol meet

Delhi non-profit proposes co-benefit approach on climate and energy benefits

 
By Aditi Sawant
Published: Wednesday 19 November 2014

Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of CSE (seen in the middle of panel of speakers facing the audience), played host at the discussion

Centre for Science and Environment successfully hosted a side event—a workshop on Global Regime For An Effective and Equitable HFC-Phase Down under The Montreal Protocol—at the ongoing 26th Meeting of Parties (MOP).

The event proposed that for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to be addressed effectively energy efficiency of alternatives to HFCs need to be taken up for consideration. CSE put forth five scenarios that showed that energy efficiency improvements along with introduction of low to medium global warming potential (GWP) alternatives can result not only in direct climate benefits but indirect benefits from avoided emissions from consumption of electricity.

The event also discussed how such a co-benefit approach on climate and energy benefits can show a way forward for a leap-frog deal to avoid double transition. The workshop further proposed that the multilateral fund (MLF) can facilitate such a leapfrog deal by incentivising uptake of alternatives that have massive energy efficiency improvements.

EC, UNDP appraise CSE study

The European Commission (EC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)—the leading implementing agencies for phase-out projects under Montreal Protocol in India—appraised the CSE study. This dialogue enabled the implementing agencies to understand concerns of NGOs and vice-versa.

The EC commented on implications of the study for their new discussion paper that puts forth a new way to mitigate HFCs. CSE pointed out the pitfalls in the current proposals that fall short of addressing the energy efficiency gains and climate benefits at the same time.

The participants from various state parties, intergovernmental organisation and NGOs engaged in a fruitful dialogue on this platform to address the way forward for effective and equitable mitigation of HFCs, especially given the rise of air-conditioning and refrigeration needs in developing countries (HFCs are most widely used in this sector). Participants welcomed analyses such as the one made by CSE that enables the implementing agencies and other bodies to understand country-specific conditions that will address the issue in a comprehensive manner to include direct and indirect emissions from the current phase-out.

Subscribe to Daily Newsletter :
Related Stories
Related Blogs

Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.