# Montreal Protocol Success Stories & Updates

Drusilla Hufford, Director Stratospheric Protection Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency MACS Annual Convention Orlando, FL January 29, 2011

# Scope
• Goals for today’s meeting:

– Highlight successes of ozone layer protection

– Identify opportunities for environmental protection

– Provide updates on MVAC policy

– Engage in dialogue


### • Topics:

– Updates on Montreal Protocol • North American Proposal to address HFCs

– Latest on EPA’s Rules on MVACs

– California’s MVAC initiative on climate

– Exciting opportunities for MVAC service

# Our Ozone Layer

Although reversing damage on Earth’s protective shield is not a quick fix, over 20+ years, the global community has collaborated to heal our ozone layer Ozone hole over Antarctica in September 2010

Source: NASA  Ozone hole over Antarctica in September 19874  

### Montreal Protocol has slowed and reversed accumulation of ozone depleting substances in 

### stratosphere  

### By 2165, actions to 

### protect ozone layer will prevent millions of U.S. skin cancer deaths UNEP/WMO Ozone Assessment, 2006 (“Effective stratospheric chlorine” is weighted sum of chlorine and bromine gases in stratosphere.) 

## Turning Off Production & Improving

Public Health

# Now... Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

MVAC refrigerants currently used have high global warming potential (GWP)

# Relationship Between ODS and Other Greenhouse Gases  

### Ozone Depleting Substances

 (Halogen Gases)  

### Greenhouse Gases

 

### CFCs  

### Halons  

### HFCs  

### HCFCs  HFC -23

 HFC - 134a  HFC - 125  

### CO2

 

### CH 4  

### SF6  

### PFCs  

### N 2

### O

 CFC - 113  CFC - 12  CFC - 11  H - 1211  H - 1301

 Carbon Tetrachloride  (CCl 4)  Methyl Chloride  (CH 3Cl)  Methyl Bromide  (CH 3 Br)
 Methyl Chloroform

 (CH 3CCl 3)

# Some ODS & HFCs = High GWP

PNAS 2009, Velders, et al

# 2010 Trilateral Amendment Proposal • Canada, Mexico & United States 

# Proposed Addressing HFC Production and Consumption

– Phase down , not Phase out of HFCs • Phases Down to 15% of Baseline, 

## GWP weighted



## – Covers 20 HFCs, including 2 known as HFOs

– Limits By- Product Emissions of HFC -23



## – Leaves UNFCCC Obligations Unchanged • Supports Global Efforts to Reduce GHGs

# Substantial Climate Benefits Possible • Global Trilateral Proposal cumulative benefits:

– ~3,000 MMTCO 2 

### eq* through 2020 • Non -Article 5 Parties = 3,000 MMTCO 2 eq • Article 5 Parties = 150 MMTCO 2 eq



### – ~88,000 MMTCO 2 

### eq through 2050 • Non -Article 5 Parties = 43,000 MMTCO 2 eq • Article 5 Parties = 45,000 MMTCO 2 eq 

### • EPA’s Analysis of HFC Production and Consumption Controls: www.epa.gov/ozone/downloads/Analysis_of_HFC_Production_and_Consu mption_Controls.pdf *MtCO2eq

# Moving toward low- GWPs?  

### Additional substitutes under development  

### Global acceptance for alternatives strengthening  

### Potential to skip higher- GWP HFC alternatives, go 

### directly to lower GWP alternatives

# Current Events
• HFO - 1234yf SNAP final rule with OMB • PMN review (SNUR) complete 

## • NRDC petition for HFC - 134a • Future of EPA/MAC partnership

# Questions?
• Thank You • Any Questions? 

## • For More Information, Visit:

– U.S. EPA’s Website on Ozone Layer Depletion: • www.epa.gov/ozone/strathome.html



## – Information and Analysis of Amendment Proposal • www.epa.gov/ozone/intpol/mpagreement.html