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PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has ratified a United Nations agreement to phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant, a fluid or gas used for cooling in refrigerators and air-conditioners, as part of measures to protect the ozone layer.
Under the agreement, Malaysia must reduce consumption of HFCs by 80% by 2045, with consumption frozen at a baseline on Jan 1, 2024.
Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the ratification will benefit Malaysia in terms of trade access with other countries, financial assistance under the Multilateral Fund, and technical assistance for local industries to convert to low carbon alternatives and technologies.
“This will in turn, open up opportunities for the local industries to give rise to products that are able to compete within the global market in the future,” he said.
The instrument of ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol was lodged with the United Nations on Oct 21. The Montreal Protocol, part of the Vienna Convention, is an agreement to limit the use of substances that deplete the ozone layer.
The Kigali Amendment came into force on Jan 1, 2019 and has been ratified by 110 countries.
He said the government began consultations in early 2017 on the phase-down of HFC consumption. Those consulted include the refrigeration and air conditioning industries, fire protection, solvent and other relevant manufacturing sectors.
HFCs are currently used as replacements of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), both of which deplete the ozone layer. However, HFCs are also powerful greenhouse gases, with a very high global warming potential up to 14,800 higher than carbon dioxide.
Reduction of HFC consumption is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 105 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2100, which will prevent the global temperature rising by 0.5 degree Celsius, the environment ministry said. - FMT
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