What are the climate and ozone benefits of accelerating the HCFC phase-out?
Accelerating the HCFC phase-out could reduce GHG emissions by more than 25 GtCO2-eq., starting almost immediately and continuing until mid-century. This is roughly five times the climate reductions expected under the climate treaty, the Kyoto Protocol. This can delay further warming and can help the climate system from passing the tipping point for abrupt and irreversible climate change. This will buy some much needed time to make the steep emissions cuts necessary to avoid catastrophic climate impacts. This is important for developing countries, who face the greatest risk from climate change and will be hardest hit by rising sea levels, increased storms, droughts, and floods, decreased agricultural production and freshwater supply, among other impacts. The accelerated HCFC phase-out also will speed the recovery of the ozone layer, which is on track to return to pre-1980 levels sometime later this century, since scientists recently reported a five year delay in recovery, partly due to
