Government orders companies to “urgently and immediately” destroy HFC-23

NEW DELHI: In a move signalling India’s commitment to taking steps to reduce the presence of heat-trapping refrigerant gases, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the atmosphere that are contributing to global warming, the government has ordered companies to “urgently and immediately” destroy HFC-23, which has a heat trapping capacity that is 14800 times that of carbon dioxide and has an

atmospheric life of 222 years. HFC-23 is a by-product in the manufacture of a commonly-used refrigerant gas, hydrochlorofluorocarbon, HCFC-22. In its order issued on Thursday, the ministry has directed five companies that are manufacturing HCFC-22 to destroy the by-product chemical gas by incineration using “an efficient and proven technology”.

The announcement was made at Kigali, Rwanda, where ministers and representatives of 195 countries are meeting to work out a schedule for reducing the use of the global warming inducing refrigerant gases under the framework of the Montreal Protocol.

Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave, who is leading India in the negotiations said “HFC-23 gas, a potent greenhouse gas with global warming potential 14,800 times more than cabon dioxide. It is produced as a by-product of HCFC-22 manufacturing, and if vented out in environment, it is a threat to the environment". Dave also made it clear that manufacturing companies will have to “internalise the cost of this environment externality”. The minister said that the companies will have to create sufficient storage facility

“This decision, taken at this juncture, fortifies the determination and commitment of the country on climate issues. This will have a positive impact on the discussions on HFCs and will make governments and producers of HCFC- 22 in both developed and developing countries think on emulating this practice,” said AN Jha, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

The negotiations are focused on reducing the use of heat trapping refrigerant gas, hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs, that contribute to global warming at rates much higher than that of carbon dioxide.

It is in this context of the ongoing negotiations that the government has made it mandatory for companies manufacturing HCFC-22 to incinerate HFC-23, which is a chemical by product of the manufacturing process. In the past Indian companies destroyed HFC-23, as part of the clean development mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, and these efforts were financed by carbon emission reduction credits. However, once the financial benefit came to an end, many manufacturers ceased to incinerate HFC-23. The environment ministry’s order addresses this problem.

In its official release, the environment ministry stated that “some HCFC–22 producers, even in the developed world, are not handling the HFC–23 in the most professional manner”. Under the Montreal Protocol, developing countries are required to phase out the use of HCFCs as refrigerant gases by 2030. The destruction of HFC-23 experts point out would part of any amendment adopted in Kigali to reduce the use of HFCs as refrigerants. However, by starting off immediately, India has taken the path of avoided emissions.

Even with complete phase-out, HCFC production will continue for feedstock purposes. “This production for feedstock purposes will reach a 1 million tonnes at its peak, so ensuring the incineration of HFC-23, produced as by-product in the manufacture of HCFC-22, will ensure the avoidance of more than 444 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent globally,” said senior Indian negotiator Manoj Kumar Singh.

“The announcement by the Indian government of an executive order on destruction of harmful HFC-23 by product is a very welcome measure. It reflects India’s commitment to phasing down the use of these potent global warming gases and sets the stage for a strong amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which is with reach, this week,” said Bhaskar Deol, India representative of the Washington DC-based think tank Natural Resources Defense Council.

Some see this move as an attempt by India to stave off pressure mounting on India to begin reducing the use of HFCs much before 2031 as put forward in its proposal. "The timing of this incineration announcement just as negotiations reach a ministerial level is a clear indication that India feels pressure to step up efforts, so they can be in the best negotiating position possible," said Paul Bledsoe, a former climate advisor in the former climate adviser in the Clinton administration.

The United States has been at the forefront of efforts to get developing countries to agree to a reduction schedule that begins as early as 2021. At Kigali, negotiations have focused on a proposal for a two-track schedule for developing countries, with countries like China going ahead with a reduction schedule that begins in 2022, while India and other countries follow a couple of years later. Explaining Thursday’s announcement by India, Bledsoe said, "the fact that China is taking such an ambitious freeze date is putting additional pressure on India."

India’s move to make the destruction of HFC 23 mandatory is effective immediately and for many a sign of the intent of countries to move forward. “This announcement today gives us hope and demonstrates that people are coming to the meeting and putting real commitments on the table. This unilateral step by India can save up to half a billion tonne. We hope all countries bring more real climate action to the table and agree to an ambitious HFC amendment deal,” Avipsa Mahapatra of the Environmental Investigation Agency.