Leaders should work together to address hurdles restraining countries from ratifying the Kigali Amendment, meant to see the global use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) cut by around 85 per cent before 2050, the minister for Environment, Vincent Biruta said.

Last October, the 28th meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, held in Kigali, agreed to Kigali Amendment—one that was described by experts as the largest temperature reduction deal ever achieved in a single agreement.

For the deal to enter into force by January 2019, however, at least 20 countries must have ratified the amendment.

But despite the significance of the deal, less than 10 countries have ratified the Kigali amendment already.

They Include Mali, the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Rwanda, Palau, Norway, Chile, Tuvalu and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Biruta, who doubles as the president of the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, in an interview last week, said working together in addressing obstacles restraining parties from ratifying the deal will go a long way in ensuring it enters into force to meet its targets sooner than later.

"This is almost half of the 20 countries we need for the amendment to enter into force…it is within our power to achieve that target sooner if we all work together,” Biruta told The New Times.

John Silk, Foreign Minister of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, in his remarks about the anniversary of Kigali amendment tweeted saying that it would be a "Huge if we can get 20 ratifications of the #KigaliAmendment this year, allowing entering into force ASAP. #HighAmbitionCoalition on the job.”

Durwood Zaelke, President of Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development has come out to urge countries to "act now and ratify the Kigali Amendment” noting that phasing out HFCs is a short cut to success in reducing temperature rise.

Zaelke told The Guardian, recently that, "The Kigali amendment is at the leading edge of a broader climate strategy that tackles both carbon dioxide and short-lived climate pollutants at the same time, while also learning how to accelerate the removal of carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere.”

Minister Biruta, on the other hand, is optimistic that the 29th meeting of the parties to the Montreal Protocol—which takes place next month in Canada, at least 20 countries would have ratified the Kigali amendment paving way for it to take action.

"The success of the Kigali Amendment in just one year since it was passed is impressive,” Biruta said, adding, "The upcoming meeting in Montreal gives the world a chance to once again demonstrate leadership on climate action. In Kigali, the international community came together to take the single most effective action to address climate change. In Montreal, we will encourage even more countries to ratify the agreement and to fast track implementation.”

During the Kigali meeting last year, the last session lasted for 24 hours while parties negotiated a number of issues mainly on financing mechanisms for the ratification of Kigali amendment.

Biruta revealed that, the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Programme (K-CEP) has been set up to channel the $52 million given by 18 foundations and individuals to help increase the energy efficiency of cooling in developing countries.

"I am pleased with the progress made over the last year and look forward to building on this in Montreal next month,” he added.

"The signs are very positive for 20 countries to have ratified by the time we meet in Montreal. The Council of the European Union has adopted a decision signaling the EU’s intent to ratify, Canada and the UK have begun the process of ratification, France has approved the amendment and Sri Lanka and the Maldives will soon officially notify the United Nations of their ratification. This momentum tells me that we will reach the 20 country threshold by November 20th.”

Biruta acknowledges that some countries might take longer than others to ratify the Kigali Amendment, because of the different legislative processes they need to go through but he is confident the vast majority of countries will take what he described as a "bold action” to ratify by November.

"It makes environmental sense, as well as business sense. But once countries have ratified, it will be important to have a comprehensive implementation plan in place so they can meet their commitments under the amendment. If all nations work together and support each other, I am sure we can achieve the targets of the amendment,” Biruta noted. What the Amendment means…

When a country ratifies the Kigali Amendment, it means that the amendment becomes law and it must meet the targets of the amendment. However, the amendment has not yet come into force internationally. This will happen in January 2019 if at least 20 countries complete ratification. Even though the amendment is not yet active, a number of countries, including Rwanda, are already developing management plans and phase-down schedules for HFCs.

For example, Chile is already phasing out HFCs and increasing energy efficiency in supermarkets, Mexico has a plan to phase out HFCs in household refrigerators and increase energy efficiency and Egypt, Nigeria, and Rwanda are developing national cooling plans.

These are steps in the right direction and will positively impact our climate by reducing the use of dangerous HFCs.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw