Tajikistan Advances Climate Action with Hydrofluorocarbon Reduction Agreement

Climate change

TAJISKISTAN: Tajikistan has taken a significant step in addressing climate change by signing an agreement to gradually phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), highly potent greenhouse gases used in cooling systems. 

The deal was signed on January 12 in Dushanbe by the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), according to The Caspian Post citing Tajik media. 

The agreement launches the “Integrated Program for the Reduction of Hydrofluorocarbons and Sustainable Cooling in Tajikistan,” funded by the Global Environment Facility. The initiative aims to help Tajikistan meet its international climate commitments under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, targeting a 70% reduction in HFC use by 2029. 

HFCs, widely used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and other cooling equipment, are among the most powerful greenhouse gases, with a substantial impact on global warming. The program will strengthen HFC import controls, improve refrigerant management across its lifecycle, and encourage the adoption of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly cooling technologies. Experts anticipate the initiative will lower greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy efficiency, foster green technology development, and boost Tajikistan’s climate resilience. 

The project also aligns with Tajikistan’s National Development Strategy through 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Having ratified the Kigali Amendment on June 30, 2022, Tajikistan became the 136th country to commit to the phased reduction of HFCs. 

This agreement reinforces Tajikistan’s role as a proactive contributor to global climate action, merging environmental protection with sustainable technological progress. 

Source: Caspian Post