Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Moving To Approve The Kigali Treaty To Reduce Use Of Dangerous HFCs And Fight Climate Change

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on moving to ratify the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocols, major climate action that would curb the use of dangerous hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:

In a few moments, I will file cloture on a measure that will get the Senate to approve the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocols.

This important amendment, which already has been agreed to by 120 countries, will affirm our nation’s commitment to curb the use of dangerous hydrofluorocarbons—HFCs. These hyper-toxic chemicals are regularly found, unfortunately, in everyday appliances, from air conditioners to refrigerators.

In December of 2020 we passed the AIM Act, which took a drastic steps to limit HFCs and was one of the most significant climate accomplishments ever, of course, until we passed the Inflation Reduction Act a month ago.

HFCs need to be dealt with as soon as possible because they are thousands—thousands—of times more damaging to our atmosphere than carbon dioxide. So this is a very important opportunity for the Senate to make official America’s intention to phase these dangerous chemicals out of use.

Approving this amendment will require two-thirds of the Senate. Reducing our country’s use of HFCs has been a bipartisan priority in the past, so both parties should work together to accelerate passage of this measure.

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