New York, 20 June 2019.Cuba deposited today the instrument of ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. With this step, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to the elimination of ozone-depleting substances, a fundamental goal of the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment. The Cuban government has been a signatory to the Montreal Protocol since 1992 and has been eliminating a group of important substances ever since.
The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer entered into force on 1 January 2019. It aims to reduce the projected production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), organic compounds frequently used in air conditioners and other devices, by more than 80% over the next 30 years. With its full implementation, the Amendment can avoid up to 0.4°C of global warming by the end of this century, while continuing to protect the ozone layer. In this regard, it will contribute substantially to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goals.
The Kigali Amendment also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in particular of the SDG 7 (on affordable and clean energy), the SDG 13, on climate action and the SDG 9, on promoting the sustainable development of industry, innovation and infrastructure.
Nowadays, the Caribbean nation has already reduced chlorofluorocarbons, which are widely used in refrigeration, foams and aerosols used in different sectors of the national economy. It has also achieved the total elimination of methyl bromide and carbon tetrachloride, while it is working on the elimination of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations