The agreement regime and every country's related climate targets will come into effect from 2020.Highly placed sources informed ET that India is set to address the most contentious of issues and will now show greater flexibility in its position on phase down of hydro flouro carbons (HFCs) and is likely to go ahead with the amendment to the Montreal Protocol. HFCs are extensively used in air conditioners and refrigerators.It is gathered that India may agree to a HFC phase out cycle of 2024-26 instead of the 2028-30/31 that it has so far been insistent on. Meanwhile, India will now ready its instrument of ratification of the Paris agreement with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ahead of the next COP22 meeting in Morocco.The Obama administration has been strongly pursuing both the ratification of the Paris agreement as well as the amendment to the Montreal Protocol globally to ensure it leaves behind a lasting legacy on climate change. It has consistently been nudging India as well on the issue. As per estimates, the phase out of HFCs and switch to alternatives from the automobile segment alone will cost India Rs 2,000 crore.

Source: Economic Times September 25, 2016 23:03 UTC