Kigali Amendment

Topic: Atmosphere: Composition, Structure and Elements of Weather · NCERT: Beyond NCERT

Meaning

The Kigali Amendment is a change to the Montreal Protocol, agreed in 2016 at Kigali, Rwanda, and in force from 1 January 2019. It makes countries phase down (cut step by step, without a full ban) their use of HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons). HFCs do not harm the ozone layer, but they are very strong greenhouse gases.

It matters because the Montreal Protocol now protects both the ozone layer and the climate. If all countries follow it fully, it should avoid 0.3–0.5°C of global warming by 2100 [4].

Explanation

Why HFCs became a problem

• Step 1: CFCs damaged the ozone layer
• CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) were used in refrigerators, ACs, aerosol sprays and foams.

• They carry chlorine up to the stratosphere (the calm, dry layer above the troposphere). There, chlorine breaks down ozone again and again.

• Step 2: The first substitutes still had chlorine

• HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) were brought in as stop-gap substitutes in ACs and foams.

• They also carry chlorine, but their effect on ozone is weaker. So they are being phased out as well.

• Step 3: HFCs fixed the ozone problem but caused a climate problem

• HFCs have no chlorine, so they do not deplete ozone.
• But they trap heat very strongly. Many are thousands of times stronger than CO2 as greenhouse gases.
• Cooling demand keeps rising, so HFC use would keep growing. That would add to global warming.

What the Amendment does

• It brings HFCs under the Montreal Protocol, a treaty that deals with ozone-depleting substances (ODS). This happens even though HFCs are not ODS.
• It uses a phase-down, not a phase-out:
• Phase-out means use falls to almost zero (as with CFCs and halons).

• Phase-down means use is cut in steps from a baseline (the starting level that all cuts are measured against).

• Like the rest of the Protocol, it gives developed countries earlier deadlines. Developing countries (Article 5 parties) get more time.

• Result: the world moves to climate-friendly refrigerants. Full compliance is expected to avoid 0.3–0.5°C of warming by 2100 [4].

India's phase-down schedule

• Baseline: 2024–26 (the average HFC use in these years is the starting point).
• Freeze: in 2028 (HFC use must stop rising).
• Cuts in four steps from 2032, measured from the baseline [1]:

Year	Cut from baseline
2032	10%
2037	20%
2042	30%
2047	85%

• A national HFC phase-down strategy was to be drawn up with industry by 2023 [1].

Where it occurs

• World:
• Agreed at Kigali, the capital of Rwanda (East Africa), in 2016. In force from 1 January 2019.

• It works through the Montreal Protocol (adopted 16 September 1987). In 2009 that Protocol became the first UN treaty ratified by every country.

• India:

• The Union Cabinet approved ratification in August 2021 [1].
• It is run by the Ozone Cell of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The same body has run India's Montreal Protocol programme since India joined in 1992 [2].
• India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP, 2019): a 20-year plan (2017–18 to 2037–38) to cut cooling demand and refrigerant use and to shift to climate-friendly refrigerants. It supports the Kigali targets.
• Background: India phased out CFCs, carbon tetrachloride and halons by 2010 [2]. By 2025 it had cut HCFC production and consumption by 67.5% [3].

Don't confuse with

• Montreal Protocol (1987): this is the main treaty that phases out ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs and halons. Kigali is an amendment to it, and it targets HFCs, which do not deplete ozone.
• Vienna Convention (1985): a framework treaty for research and cooperation, with no binding cuts. Kigali sets binding, dated cuts.
• HCFCs vs HFCs: HCFCs contain chlorine and weakly damage ozone, so they are phased out under the HPMP (HCFC Phase-out Management Plan). HFCs have no chlorine. They are controlled only because they are strong greenhouse gases.
• Phase-down vs phase-out: Kigali reduces HFCs step by step (India: 85% by 2047). It does not ban them fully.

Prelims Hooks

• Kigali Amendment: agreed 2016 (Kigali, Rwanda), in force 1 January 2019. It amends the Montreal Protocol, not the Kyoto Protocol.
• Trap: HFCs do not deplete ozone. They are controlled because they are powerful greenhouse gases.
• Chronology: Vienna Convention 1985 → Montreal Protocol 1987 → universal ratification 2009 → Kigali 2016 → in force 2019.
• India: baseline 2024–26, freeze 2028, cuts of 10% (2032) → 20% (2037) → 30% (2042) → 85% (2047) [1].
• India's Cabinet approved ratification in August 2021 [1]. The nodal body is the Ozone Cell, MoEFCC [2].
• Full compliance could avoid 0.3–0.5°C of warming by 2100 [4].

Mains Points

• Ozone–climate link (GS-III): replacing CFCs and HCFCs with HFCs swapped an ozone problem for a climate problem. Kigali fixes this inside the Montreal Protocol. It could avoid 0.3–0.5°C of warming by 2100 [4]. This shows that ozone and climate policies must be planned together.
• India's commitments (GS-III): India follows a later timeline for developing countries (freeze in 2028; 85% cut by 2047) [1]. This gives Indian industry time to change. Along with ICAP 2019, it matters because AC demand is rising fast in hot Indian cities. The aim is to meet cooling needs without large HFC emissions.
• A model for climate treaties (GS-III): the Montreal Protocol has universal ratification, clear deadlines and extra time for developing countries. It has phased out about 99% of the ozone-depleting substances it controls [2]. Kigali uses this proven system to tackle greenhouse gases, which offers lessons for wider climate agreements.

Related concepts

• Ozone layer
• Dobson unit
• Ozone hole
• Polar stratospheric clouds
• Montreal Protocol
• Stratospheric aerosol injection

Read more

• The ozone layer, its depletion and the Montreal Protocol