Environment Ministry holds meeting of Stakeholders on phasing down HFCs
Stakeholders across industry groups and international experts
discussed the challenges faced by India in phasing down high global
warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons (HFC)s at a roundtable
session held here yesterday.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Anil Madhav Dave
highlighted that India leads by example through its sustainable
lifestyle habits that are key to mitigating climate change issues. The
Minister also encouraged all stakeholders to focus on R&D towards
implementing holistic solutions that address consumption as well as
emission, as well as mechanisms to finance such initiatives. The
Minister also gave an assurance that India remains committed to address
the issue of Climate Change. Reaffirming India’s constructive role in
global efforts to mitigate climate change, the Minister said that India
would seek an equitable agreement in Kigali that is in the best
interests of the nation, its people, as well as the larger global
community. Shri Dave also added that the need was to focus on issues
like energy efficiency, using CSR for research and development, and on
demand-side management – changing architecture and consumption patterns
to reduce cooling needs.
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
hosted the roundtable discussion on “Phasing Down HFCs in India: Road to
the HFC amendment to the Montreal Protocol”. Representatives from
MoEFCC, civil society organisations, such as Refrigeration and
Air-Conditioning Manufacturers Association (RAMA), Refrigerant Gas
Manufacturers Association (REGMA), Indian Polyurethane Association
(IPU), Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), National
Research Development Corporation (NRDC) & The Energy and Resources
Institute (TERI), as well as representatives from industry, were present
at the discussion. Some of the key issues discussed at the roundtable
included - opportunities and challenges in the residential and
commercial air conditioning sector, cost and benefits of various
transition imperatives, and issues that are likely to come up during
negotiations, specifically related to patents and finance.
The Ministry reaffirmed the need to develop indigenous research and
development capabilities for India specific HFC alternatives. The
recent collaborative R&D programme initiated by the Ministry, to
develop low GWP HFC alternatives within the country, was also
highlighted.
The positive nature of multilateral negotiations and recent moves to
create financial incentives for energy efficiency and India’s unique
position, both as a consumer and as a producer of refrigerants at the
negotiations were also highlighted. The role played by industry, in
facilitating transitions in compliance with various aspects of the
protocol was also recognized.
A key concern that came up during the discussions was the
additional cost involved in migrating to greener technologies. According
to a recent research by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water
(CEEW) released yesterday, the economy wide cost for transition for
India between 2015 and 2050 would be 12 billion Euros for the Indian
proposal and 34 billion Euros for the North American proposal.
Additional Secretary, MoEFCC, Shri R.R Rashmi said, “There are different
estimates as to what it will cost to make the switch. But we must
emphasise in Kigali that the commitment of donor countries has to be
absolute and this assurance is necessary to fulfil any commitments India
makes”. “One thing is clear. The debate is not on what needs to be
done, but on how to do it. We have to make sure all parties are
comfortable. A fine balance has to be achieved between national
interests and environmental concerns,” Shri Rashmi added.
Experts also suggested that India should assert that funding (from
the Multilateral Fund) for research and development of low GWP
alternatives, and for capacity building of the servicing sector should
be disbursed to developing countries as soon as possible, so that this
technological transition can be achieved without any delay.
International experts highlighted that early funding is available for
countries to choose energy-efficient alternatives and move for an
earlier phase-down.
Representatives from the industry voiced various challenges they
face like patent issues, cost of moving to alternatives, lack of
research on performance of refrigerants in high ambient temperature
regions, and competitiveness of the industrial sector. Moreover,
several voices from the industry questioned the safety, flammability and
toxicity issues, with some of the low GWP alternatives and emphasised
on the need for creating an incentive-structure for scaling up potential
alternatives. The session also focussed on issues related to further
testing and mainstreaming of available alternatives in the market, like
natural refrigerants.
Earlier, Joint Secretary, MoEFCC, Shri Manoj Kumar Singh, opened
the session and briefed the gathering about the importance of the
upcoming negotiations in Kigali (Rwanda).
During the earlier rounds of negotiations held in Bangkok, Thailand
in 2015, India had, taken a leadership role by proposing an amendment
to the Montreal Protocol, recognizing the need to phase out HFCs, while
also rationalising the costs associated with such a transition.
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HK
(Release ID :151159)
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