On Feb. 16th a bipartisan group of senators introduced the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act to address hydrofluorocarbons, an incredibly potent greenhouse gas.
During the 2016 Conference of Parties convened by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Kigali, Rwanda, an agreement was reached to globally phase down HFC use. This agreement is formally known as the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The amendment will enter into force on January 1st, 2019.
Up until recently, it appeared that the White House would support the Kigali amendment, in direct contrast to the administration’s approach to the vast majority of Obama-era climate policies. Since the Kigali amendment applies to an international treaty, the president would have to present the amendment to the Senate for ratification, where it would need to receive a two-thirds vote.
Within the White House, the Kigali amendment received the majority of its attention and support from George David Banks, White House international energy and environment advisor. In mid-February of 2018 though, Banks resigned after learning that he would be unable to receive a permanent security clearance due to his past marijuana use.
With Banks out of the White House, it is unclear how the administration will proceed with the Kigali amendment. With such uncertainty from the administration, however, the Senate has taken its own action to address the need for HFC phasedown.
On February 16^th^, 2018, Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act along with Senators Cassidy (R-LA), Coons (D-DE), Collins (R-ME), and Merkley (D-OR). This bipartisan group of six is encouraging the phasedown of HFCs by allowing the potent greenhouse gas to be regulated by the EPA. The senators believe the transition to HFC alternatives would be a win for both industry and the climate. This bill represents a standalone effort within the Senate that would address HFC’s without formally ratifying the Kigali amendment. The same bill would still need to be passed in the house and signed by the president before going into effect.
There is currently no direct companion bill in the House; however, there is demonstrable bipartisan support for addressing HFCs. In June of 2017 the SUPER Act (H.R.2858) was introduced in the House. The SUPER Act addresses several potent, short-lived climate pollutants including HFCs and received bipartisan support from several members of the Climate Solutions Caucus.
FCNL is hopeful that the federal government will find a way to phase down HFCs and is thankful to the senators and representatives working to reduce this incredibly potent family of greenhouse gasses.
