In a significant change of stand, India on Monday did not oppose the discussion on the issue of harmful greenhouse gas hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the UN Montreal Protocol on ozone-depleting substances.
The change in Indian stand comes in the wake of a joint statement on HFCs signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama on 30 September this year under which both the nations had agreed to discuss the harmful greenhouse gas under Montreal Protocol.
HFCs were introduced as a substitute to ozone-depleting hydrochloroflurocarbons (HCFCs). India had been arguing till recently in the global platforms that the Montreal Protocol is a specific treaty for phasing out production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. Indian officials in the Ministry of Environment and Forests had opposed the proposed amendments to discuss HFCs, which are not ozone-depleting substances.
The change in Indian stand comes in the wake of a joint statement on HFCs signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama on 30 September this year under which both the nations had agreed to discuss the harmful greenhouse gas under Montreal Protocol.
HFCs were introduced as a substitute to ozone-depleting hydrochloroflurocarbons (HCFCs). India had been arguing till recently in the global platforms that the Montreal Protocol is a specific treaty for phasing out production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. Indian officials in the Ministry of Environment and Forests had opposed the proposed amendments to discuss HFCs, which are not ozone-depleting substances.