When countries from around the world gather in Montreal Sept. 17 to 21, they will consider an accelerated freeze and phase out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons, or HCFCs, as a further means of tackling global warming.

HCFCs were touted more than a decade ago as a less damaging replacement for the older chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which were used as refrigerants in appliances including refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners. CFCs were identified as a primary culprit in the destruction of the Earth´s ozone layer.

Twenty years ago in Montreal, nations signed the Montreal Protocol, which called for the phasing out of CFCs. When they meet this month, they will consider accelerating the phase out of its replacement HCFCs. Under existing international agreement, use of HCFCs is set to cease in developed countries in 2030 and in developing ones in 2040.

However, because of growing concern about global warming and a better understanding that HCFCs are potent greenhouse gases, scientists and many governments are now studying a range of options for phasing out the production of these replacement refrigerant gases within about 10 years.

Eliminating HCFCs would represent an annual reduction equal to more than 3.5 percent of the world´s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Program, which was responsible for the Montreal Protocol and is organizing the upcoming Montreal meeting.

The U.N. estimates as many as 191 parties or governments may attend the meeting. That is equal to the number of nations that ratified the original Montreal Protocol.

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