Kigali Amendment turns 10: HFC phase-down and India’s schedule
Why in the news
15 October 2026 marked ten years since the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which brought hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the treaty. Parties will mark the anniversary at MOP-38 in Kigali next month.
Key facts
- Adopted: 15 October 2016 at the 28th Meeting of the Parties (MOP-28), Kigali, Rwanda.
- Entry into force: 1 January 2019.
- Ratification: 173 of 198 parties, covering over 92% of the world’s population (UNEP briefing).
- Climate benefit: more than 80 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent avoided by 2050, about 0.1 deg C of warming avoided by mid-century and up to 0.5 deg C by 2100.
- India: the Union Cabinet approved ratification in August 2021.
- MOP-38: 2-6 November 2026, Kigali Convention Centre, Rwanda.
India’s HFC phase-down schedule
| Step | Year | Cut from baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | Average of 2024-2026 | – |
| Freeze | 2028 | 0% |
| Step 1 | 2032 | 10% |
| Step 2 | 2037 | 20% |
| Step 3 | 2042 | 30% |
| Step 4 | 2047 | 85% |
A 2026 MoEFCC memorandum adds that no new or expanded HFC production capacity for controlled uses will be allowed after 31 December 2027.
About the country groups
- Non-Article 5 (developed) parties: controls began in 2019; 85% cut by 2036.
- Article 5 Group 1 (most developing countries): freeze in 2024; 80% cut by 2045.
- Article 5 Group 2 (ten hot-climate countries in the Middle East and South Asia): freeze in 2028; 85% cut by 2047. India’s dates match this group’s schedule.
Exam angle
- Kigali brought HFCs, used mainly in cooling and refrigeration, under the ozone treaty as a climate measure.
- India: freeze 2028, final 85% cut in 2047; baseline years 2024-2026.
- The India Cooling Action Plan supports the refrigerant transition.