Roundtable Discussion

Phasing Down HFCs in the Context of Indias Proposed Amendment to

Montreal Protocol
Date: 17 March 2016|10 AM 1 PM|Venue: Teesta Conference Hall
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India,
Indira ParyavaranBhawan, NewDelhi

Background
Indias built environment is projected to grow 5 fold between 2005 and 2030, and vehicular density
projected to more than triple by 2030. As rapid economic growth results in rising standards of living,
use of air conditioning in buildings and vehicles is expanding rapidly. With the Montreal Protocol
phasing out use of ozone depleting refrigerants, Indian industry is in the process of substituting
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) used in refrigeration and foam sectors with hydrofluorocarbons
(HFCs) that do not affect the ozone layer. However, HFC shave significant global warming potential
over a thousand times stronger than carbon dioxide.
Global markets are already shifting away from HFCs. European Union, Japan, United States, China
and a number of other countries are taking steps to phase down their use. Products using alternative
technologies are already available in Indian markets. Over half a million room air conditioning units
using low- or mid-GWP refrigerants (HC-290 and HFC-32) have been sold in India till date, and
Indias automobile manufacturing companies have been amongst the first in developing countries to
test vehicles using low global warming refrigerants (HFO-1234yf and HFC-152a).
During the recently held Montreal Protocol Meeting of Parties held in November, in part spurred by
Indias proposed amendment to the Protocol, all countries agreed to work towards an HFC
amendment within the Montreal Protocol in 2016. Before India and the rest of the world can embark
on a successful transition to low global-warming refrigerants, several key challenges need to be
addressed, including technology availability, financing, safety and costs.
To help address these questions, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
together with knowledge partners the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the
Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) are convening a roundtable in New
Delhi on Thursday, 17th March 2016.The purpose of the discussion is to engage stakeholders from
across industry groups, international experts, and seek their input on challenges in phasing down
high-GWP HFCs.
1

TentativeAgenda

Session 1: Amendment Proposal Key Issues: Baseline and Freeze Year

(1000 Hrs to 1135Hrs)
The introductory session would set the tone for discussion, highlighting the key concerns to be addressed for
Indian industry in context of proposed amendments to the Montreal Protocol.

10:00 10:10 AM

Introductory Remarks & Briefing Presentation: The Way Forward: Constructing an

amendment proposal suitable for India by Dr Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Research Fellow,
CEEW and Alex Hillbrand, Technical Analyst, NRDC

10:10 10:20 AM

Remarks by Session Chair ShriSusheel Kumar, Special Secretary, Ministry of

Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Govt. of India (TBC)

10:20 10:30 AM

Keynote Address by Honorable MinisterShriPrakashJavadekar, Ministry of

Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Govt. of India (TBC)

10:30 11:25 AM

Discussion: Baseline & Freeze Year

11:25 11:35 AM
Break
Session 2: Technology and Finance: Alternatives, Safety and Patents
(1135Hrs to 1300 Hrs)
This session will discuss the transition to low-GWP technologies in key sectors, given Indian industrys
existing commitments to HCFC phase down, and discussion on costs of transition include intellectual
property.

11:35 11:50 AM

Presentation: New Emerging Alternatives to High-GWP HFCs and Associated Costs

by Dr. Stephen O. Andersen, Director of Research, IGSD and BhaskarDeol,
Consultant, NRDC

11:50 12: 10 PM

Industry Panel on New Alternatives:

TATA Motors, RAMA Representative, SRF Representative

12: 10 1:00 PM

Discussion: Alternatives, Costs and other issues

1:00 PM onwards

Lunch