Carper Expresses Strong Support for International Agreement to Cut Harmful Climate Pollution

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, expressed support for an international agreement to amend the Montreal Protocol. The amendment will begin phasing down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and is used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and industrial applications. Senator Carper has long advocated for a reduction in the use of HFCs because they negatively impact our global climate.

“I applaud both President Obama and Secretary Kerry for their continued leadership on efforts to combat climate change and reduce international greenhouse gas pollution. The Montreal Protocol has been a great example of how governments can work together to address a global environmental problem – it has moved the globe away from using ozone-destroying substances without negatively impacting the world economy. 

“I am thrilled to see the international community use the Montreal Protocol to address another environmental challenge – climate change. If left unchecked, HFCs could account for a tremendous portion of climate pollution in the decades to come. Fortunately, however, through an amended Montreal Protocol, we have an international framework that will guide countries around the world as they transition the materials we use to cool our homes and chill our food to safer alternatives that have a lower global warming impact. 

“I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress, as well as this and future administrations, to implement a cost-effective way to phase down the use of HFCs in the United States so we can meet our climate goals.  As we continue to see the drastic effects of climate change, like sea-level rise and increasingly powerful storms, the United States and countries around the world must continue to find ways to reduce pollution that causes climate change, and this is a step in the right direction.”

Senator Carper has long been a leader on reducing the harmful impact of HFCs on our environment. He sponsored legislative language that was included in the 2007 Lieberman-Warner climate change bill that was the first of its kind to address this issue. Subsequently, that language was included in other climate change bills, and has encouraged the Obama administration to work multilaterally to curb the use of harmful HFCs.