The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced additional actions to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used in refrigeration and air conditioning to reduce greenhouse gases.  

Scientists believe that the climate impact of HFCs can be hundreds to thousands of times stronger than the same amount of carbon dioxide.

The agency’s new rule will set guidelines to lower the number of allowances for the production and use of HFCs to 40% below historical levels starting in 2024.  

The proposal comes about a month after the Senate voted to approve the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, a global agreement to phase down HFCs and avoid up to 0.5°C of global warming by the end of this century. 

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said: “From day one, President Biden promised ambitious action to address the climate crisis and its impacts, which are becoming ever more disruptive and costing billions of dollars every year. Today’s action once again delivers on his promise.”