Senate Ratifies Pact to Curb a Broad Category of Potent Greenhouse Gases

The Senate voted on Wednesday to approve an international climate treaty for the first time in 30 years, agreeing in a rare bipartisan deal to phase out the use of planet warming industrial chemicals.

The United States joined 137 other nations in agreeing to sharply reduce the production and use of HFCs. Warming the planet with 1000 times the heat-trapping strength of carbon dioxide is caused by the chemicals.

The majority leader of the Senate, Chuck Schumer of New York, called the vote a historic step forward to combat global warming. One of the most important bipartisan accomplishments may be the vote. The treaty was approved by all present members of the Democratic caucus, including the minority leader.

The passage of the nation's first major climate change law, which pumps $370 billion, is the strongest one-two punch against climate change any Congress has ever taken.

Scientists estimate that if the pact is implemented, it will prevent up to a degree of warming by the end of the century. Every part of a degree makes a difference in the warming of the planet.

The average global temperature has risen over the last century. The likelihood of catastrophic climate impacts is increased by an increase beyond 1.5 degree Celsius, according to scientists.

Congress and the Biden administration have already enacted policies to reduce the production and importation of hydrofluorocarbons in the United States by 85 percent over the next 15 years, so the vote doesn't really change anything.

In the waning days of the Obama administration, the United States helped to secure the treaty, which carries symbolic weight at a time of increased action on climate change.

Durwood Zaelke is the president of the Institute for Governance and sustainable development, a Washington-based research and advocacy organization.

Mr. Zaelke said that the approach of curtailing a greenhouse gas through a small sector of the economy could be a template for future agreements. The way forward is shown by taking a bite out of the climate problem.

On a day when President Biden told the UN General Assembly that the United States would continue to press ahead with climate action, the vote happened. The United States was the only nation to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

Mr. Biden said that he came to office with a bold climate agenda.

The Senate's passage of the Inflation Reduction Act gave Mr. Biden another example of the United States being able to fulfill its climate pledges.

The Montreal Protocol was established in 1987 to repair the ozone layer by banning chlorofluorocarbons. Ozone is a part of the Earth's atmosphere that protects it from harmful rays from the sun.

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HFCs, which do not harm the ozone layer, were developed by chemical companies in response to the 1987 agreement. A number of states have banned or restricted HFCs.

The unusual climate policy of reducing HFCs was supported by both the environmental community and industry and trade groups. The National Association of Manufacturers, American Chemistry Council and the United States Chamber of Commerce are included.

The amendment was supported by many American manufacturers. Beginning in 2033, access to international markets will be restricted for nations that do not approve the amendment.

Some Republicans supported the deal.

Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, and Senator Tom Carper, a Democrat from Delaware, called for approval of the agreement.

The senators wrote in a statement this year that the amendment will open up global markets to American-made products and allow the federal government to prevent illegal Chinese dumping of HFCs in the U.S.

In 2020 Congress passed the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, which directs the Environmental Protection Agency to set new rules on HFCs, which begin to take effect this year, and will gradually reduce the production and importation of hydrofluorocarbons in the United States.

Roughly 15 percent of HFCs are still allowed because they have critical uses. The United States and the European Union will reduce production and consumption of HFCs by 15% by 2036.

The rest of the world, including China, Brazil and all of Africa, will reduce HFC use by 2045.

China would be put on the same HFC phaseout timetable as other developed countries under an amendment approved by the Senate. The secretary of state is directed to propose a change to the Montreal Protocol.

A small group of the world's hottest countries, like India, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, have the most relaxed schedule, freezing HFC use by 2028 and reducing it to about 15 percent of the levels of 25 years ago.

Republicans argued that the provisions of the pact created an unfair playing field.

The ranking Republican on the Senate Energy Committee, John Barrasso of Wyoming, voted against the law. He said in a speech on the Senate floor that there was no excuse for senators to give China a handout.

The letter was sent by Americans for Prosperity, a political action committee founded by the Koch brothers. It was argued that it would raise the price of air-conditioning and industrial cooling for American consumers.

Francis Dietz is a spokesman for the Air-Conditioning, heating and Refrigeration Institute. The phase-down of HFCs was happening regardless of what the Senate did.

He said, "If you're a consumer, this isn't going to make any difference to you anyways."

Emily gave reporting.