150 nations agree major deal to cut greenhouse gases
Reuters
15 October, 2016, 11:34
Update: 15 October, 2016, 11:38
US Secretary of State John Kerry delivers his keynote address to promote US climate and environmental goals, at the Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on the elimination of hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) use, held in Rwanda's capital Kigali, October 14, 2016. Photo: Reuters
Kigali, Rwanda: About 150 nations meeting in Rwanda agreed a global deal to reduce greenhouse gases used in refrigerators and air conditioners, a Rwandan minister announced to loud cheers on Saturday, a major milestone in combating climate change.
The deal, agreed by US Secretary of State John Kerry, divides countries into three groups with different deadlines to reduce the use of factory-made hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases, said Minister Vinncent Biruta.
Developed nations, including much of Europe and the United States, commit to reducing their use of the gas by 10 per cent by 2019. Two groups of developing countries will freeze their use of the gas by either 2024 or 2028, and then begin gradually reducing it.