International. The Australian government successfully passed legislation to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which comprise up to 2 per cent of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.
The advance of HFC imports under the Ozone Protection Act and the 2017 Greenhouse Gas Management Amendment will begin in 2018 and reach an 85 percent reduction in 2036. Australia co-chaired negotiations in Kigali last year that led to a global agreement, of all 197 parties to the Montreal Protocol to eliminate these potent gases.
Global phase-out is estimated to reduce emissions by up to 72 billion tonnes by 2050. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this action could prevent up to 0.5°F of temperature rise by 2100.
This phase-out builds on the successful approach taken to phase out previous gases, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which is already leading to a recovery of the ozone layer.
Australia has a proud record of leadership in the Montreal Protocol. The coalition government's early action to pass this legislation demonstrates continued international leadership and will constitute a significant domestic emissions reduction of up to 80 million tonnes.
The bill will achieve these environmental results while significantly reducing bureaucracy, including reducing the number of businesses required to have a license by a third, halving reporting obligations and reducing the number of invoices sent by 94 percent.
