FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lizzie Stricklin
Email: lstricklin@bcse.org
Phone: 202.785.0507 ext. 1504
Washington, D.C. – The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) commends Senate ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol of 1987. This critical agreement will propel the U.S. toward international decarbonization goals and support American manufacturing of energy-efficient appliances.
“Senate ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is a critical action that will promote U.S. competitiveness and jobs, while demonstrating U.S. leadership in the fight against global climate change,” said BCSE President Lisa Jacobson. “This bipartisan outcome is the result of efforts over many years by policymakers, industry, and stakeholders.”
The Kigali Amendment, first proposed in 2016, established an international protocol for phasing down the use of hydrofluorocarbons – heat-trapping chemical coolants that are 1,000 times more potent greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide. Successful phase out of this greenhouse gas is predicted to reduce global temperatures by 0.5° C by 2100. With Senate ratification, the U.S. has joined 137 nations and the European Union in signing on to this crucial accord.
“This ratification announces that the U.S. is taking action on climate change on a global scale,” Jacobson added. “It will be a boon for American industry by creating new manufacturing jobs and boosting American exports. BCSE commends the Senate for voting to ratify this important multilateral agreement.”