Today the U.S. Senate ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The amendment sets targets for signatory nations to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), climate pollutants most commonly used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and insulation. The United States now joins 137 nations that have already ratified the amendment. After the vote, Earthjustice Vice President of Policy and Legislation Martin Hayden issued the following statement:

“The ratification of the Kigali Amendment, together with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, demonstrates a renewed commitment by the United States to take concrete actions to address the climate crisis. With full implementation, we can phase out dangerous planet-warming HFCs, and our planet can avoid up to 0.5 C in climate warming by 2100.

“It’s not just a climate win, it’s an economic win. U.S. industries have pioneered alternatives to HFCs, and ratification will create and sustain thousands of American jobs across the country. We’d like to thank Majority Leader Schumer for securing bipartisan support for this amendment and helping restore US climate leadership ahead of the upcoming COP 27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.”