In 2016, over 170 countries reached an international agreement to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases commonly used in air conditioners and refrigerators. These chemicals, though not harmful to the ozone layer, have a global warming potential thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide. The pact, known as the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, aimed to reduce HFC production and consumption worldwide and is widely regarded as a significant step in addressing climate change.

Now, a decade later, the agreement is showing signs of success. Reports indicate that global HFC production and use have peaked, with sharp declines observed in 2024. Countries are currently ahead of their reduction targets, supported by both industry shifts and international financing. Developed nations took on earlier reduction obligations starting in 2019, while developing countries have a slower timeline and receive financial assistance to upgrade manufacturing systems. This fund is replenished primarily by wealthier countries, including those that have otherwise been reluctant to provide broader climate finance.

Experts say the Kigali Amendment offers a useful model for climate policy due to its legal binding nature—a characteristic that sets it apart from other global climate accords like the Paris Agreement. Under the amendment, countries that fail to meet their commitments could face restrictions on importing or exporting HFCs. This enforceability, combined with the backing of chemical companies introducing safer alternatives, has contributed to the pact’s effectiveness.

Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, has called the deal “the most successful climate agreement in history” and advocates for a similar international approach to reducing methane, another powerful greenhouse gas emitted primarily from oil production and agriculture. She argues that the Kigali model could be replicated without requiring broad societal changes, since these super pollutants typically come from specific, identifiable sources.

The Kigali Amendment originated from efforts to protect the ozone layer starting in the 1980s. When chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were phased out due to their ozone-depleting properties, HFCs emerged as substitutes. However, their climate impact soon became apparent, prompting calls for tighter regulation. The amendment was influenced by diplomatic cooperation between the United States and China in 2013 and the rising advocacy of vulnerable nations concerned about climate impacts such as sea level rise.

While global average temperatures have already increased by about 0.4 degrees Celsius since preindustrial times—partly driven by the expansion of cooling technologies in developing regions and Europe—the Kigali agreement aims to prevent an additional 0.5 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100. Some experts suggest this figure may be conservative, noting that increased appliance efficiency and further technological advances could enhance the pact’s climate benefits.

Despite its success, the agreement exists alongside broader challenges in global climate governance. The Trump administration, for example, withdrew from various climate finance mechanisms unrelated to HFC reduction, reflecting political divisions over international climate aid. Nonetheless, the Kigali Amendment remains a notable example of effective multilateral environmental cooperation with promising implications for future efforts to tackle climate pollutants.