UNEP OzonAction has released a special edition of OzonAction Scoop marking the tenth anniversary of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The publication reviews progress in phasing down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and documents how countries are implementing regulations, strengthening refrigeration and air-conditioning technician training, and introducing more sustainable cooling technologies.
Adopted on 15 October 2016, the Kigali Amendment established a global framework for reducing HFC production and consumption. According to the publication, 176 of the 198 Parties to the Montreal Protocol had ratified the amendment as of October 2026. Global HFC use is expected to decline by 80–85% by 2047, potentially avoiding up to 0.5°C (0.9°F) of global warming by 2100 if the amendment is fully implemented.
The report outlines national measures including HFC import licensing, quota management, customs enforcement, refrigerant recovery and recycling, and restrictions on high-global-warming-potential (GWP) refrigerants. Examples include China’s annual HFC quota system and planned GWP restrictions for refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, Palau’s restrictions on equipment containing HFC-134a or R-410A, and Vanuatu’s integration of licensing and quota management into its Electronic Single Window system.
Technician training and refrigerant lifecycle management are also central themes. The publication describes certification and training initiatives in Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Ecuador, covering safe handling of lower-GWP refrigerants, leak prevention, refrigerant recovery and regeneration. Ecuador reports regenerating nearly one tonne (approximately 2,205 lb) of HFCs through initiatives combining technical training and refrigerant management.
The special edition also examines the relationship between HFC phasedown and cooling equipment energy efficiency. It reports that combining refrigerant transitions with energy-efficiency improvements could nearly double the climate benefits of the Kigali Amendment, potentially avoiding approximately 1°C (1.8°F) of warming by 2100. Developed in cooperation with the Multilateral Fund Secretariat, the Ozone Secretariat, the UNEP United for Efficiency Cool Coalition and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the publication brings together implementation experiences from countries across multiple regions.
