More than 150 nations meeting in Rwanda hammered out a global deal to cut back on greenhouse gases used in refrigerators and air conditioners, a major milestone in combating climate change.
Over 150 nations commit to reduce greenhouse gases
The United States of America’ Secretary of State, John Kerry, also applauded the move.
“ I’m very excited about it actually. It’s a monumental step forward that addresses the need of individual nations but it will give us the opportunity to reduce the warming of the planet by an entire half a degree centigrade, represents more multilateral patience and diplomacy over a long period of time.”
The deal divides countries into three groups with different deadlines to reduce the use of factory-made hydrofluorocarbon gases, which can be 10,000 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as greenhouse gases.
Under the pact, developed nations, including much of Europe and the United States, commit to reducing their use of the gases incrementally, starting with a 10 percent cut by 2019 and reaching 85 percent by 2036.
Two groups of developing countries will freeze their use of the gases by either 2024 or 2028, and then gradually reduce their use. India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and the Gulf countries will meet the later deadline.