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Implementing Energy Efficiency at Scale: The HFC Montreal Protocol amendment this year

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Morocco’s Climate COP22 Champion, Rwanda Environment Minister & Norway Environment Minister

22 September 2016, New York – The hosts of the two most important climate meetings this year, Moroccan Environment Minister and COP22 Climate Champion Hakima El Haite and Environment Minister of Rwanda Vincent Biruta, will co-host a press conference on the opportunity to implement energy efficiency at scale through an ambitious HFC amendment to the Montreal Protocol in Rwanda next month. The government of Norway, a strong supporter of this initiative, will join the ministers from Africa.

[This event will build off $80 million fast-start fund announced today.]

Rwanda will host 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol next month in Kigali, where an HFC amendment is likely but the level of ambition is yet to be determined. The Morocco-Rwanda Joint Statement reads:

The Kingdom of Morocco and the Government of Rwanda stand united to work with all Parties to the Montreal Protocol to pass an ambitious amendment in October in Kigali.  Doing so would be the most impactful step the world can take this year to achieve the global targets set under the Paris Agreement.

A fast HFC phasedown under the Montreal Protocol can avoid 100 billion tons of CO2-equivalent by 2050 and avoid 0.5C warming by 2100 – nearly 10% of the mitigation needed to stay below the 2C level established as the outer limit in the Paris Agreement last year and is crucial on the path to stay below 1.5C.

Past phase outs under the Montreal Protocol have catalyzed energy efficiency improvements to appliances using the refrigerants in the range of 30 to 60%. In the room air conditioning sector alone, improving energy efficiency of equipment by 30% while simultaneously transitioning to low-GWP HFCs alternatives could save an amount of electricity equivalent to up to 2,500 medium-sized power plants globally by 2050, while providing climate mitigation of nearly 100 billion tons of CO2-equivalent by 2050 from this sector.

There are currently 900 million room air conditioners worldwide. As populations and incomes increase and as the world gets warmer, this number is projected to grow to 2.5 billion air conditioners by 2050. In many countries during the hot season, air conditioners use up to 50% of peak power.

Energy efficiency in air conditioning provides a powerful opportunity to use saved energy to provide for those without, and the Montreal Protocol could help launch a global energy-efficiency transition. Such energy efficiency gains also will reduce air pollution, save lives and protect health, and prevent damage to crops.

By ensuring energy efficiency in the implementation of an HFC phasedown the countries of Africa are partnering together to protect their economies and their populations from climate change.

 

Participants:

Hon. Hakima El Haite, Climate Champion COP22 and Environment Minister Morocco

Hon. Vincent Biruta, Minister of Environment Rwanda

Hon. Vidar Helgesen, Minister of Climate and Environment Norway

Kate Hampton, CEO of Children’s Investment Fund Foundation

Durwood Zaelke, IGSD President (Moderator)