In accordance with its global obligations to reduce the production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which contribute to climate change, the Government has mandated that all state and central authorities cease providing environmental clearances for any new or expanded HFC production facilities after December 31, 2027. Applicants seeking approval before this cutoff must provide a commitment that their production facilities will be operational and commence production by the specified date.
This directive from the Ministry of Environment was communicated on April 1 via an office memorandum addressed to State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authorities and Central Expert Appraisal Committees. The memorandum emphasized that no new environmental clearances for HFC production will be issued under the Environment Impact Notification. As a participant in the Montreal Protocol of 1989, India is committed to combating ozone layer depletion by phasing out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), culminating in a complete ban by 2010. Furthermore, in 2021, India ratified the Kigali Amendment to the protocol, which aims to gradually reduce the use of HFCs that were initially adopted as substitutes for CFCs. This significant amendment was established in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2016.
India has committed to a phasedown timeline starting January 1, 2028, aiming for a 10 percent reduction in HFCs by 2032 and an ambitious 85 percent reduction by 2047. Recognizing the importance of the January 1, 2028 freeze date, the government has deemed it essential to implement a framework for regulating and progressively decreasing HFC production to fulfill its international commitments. The memorandum clearly states that no additional HFC production capacities will be authorized beyond December 31, 2027.
According to the ministry’s memorandum, the phase-down objectives will be enforced through suitable regulatory measures, which include amendments to the Ozone Depleting Substances Rules established in 2000. This approach aims to align with the HFC phase-down timeline outlined in the Kigali Amendment, restricting the establishment of new HFC production facilities or any expansions of existing ones after the freeze date of January 1, 2028, and establishing a regulatory framework for HFC production.
Nikhil Ghanekar, an accomplished journalist with 14 years of experience, serves as the Assistant Editor at the National Bureau of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily focuses on environmental policy, closely following significant developments and the internal workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Additionally, he reports on the activities of the National Green Tribunal and examines the effects of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry, and climate change.
Having joined The Indian Express in 2024 and originally from Mumbai, Nikhil has previously contributed to various publications, including Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18, and Indiaspend. Throughout his career, he has covered a wide array of topics, including sports, current events, urban environmental news, central government policies, and political issues.
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