'Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol needed to reduce hydrofluorocarbons'

Kathmandu, Feb 23: Minister for Forest and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri has said that the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol was needed to reduce the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons, a major cause of global warming.     

Responding to the questions raised in today's House of Representatives (HoR) meeting, Minister Shahi said the proposal should be amended soon to protect the ozone layer and reduce the climate change impacts.     

According to the United Nations, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol will reduce the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by more than 80 per cent over the next 30 years and the amendment can avoid up to 0.4°C of global warming by the end of this century if fully implemented.     

Calling for its amendment, Minister Shahi stated that it was in line with the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and Nepal is its party since 1994.     

Likewise, Nepal has also ratified four amendments (London, Copenhagen, Montreal and Beijing amendments) to the Montreal Protocol made in different times.     

The HoR meeting today unanimously passed the proposal tabled by Minister Shahi seeking general discussion on the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.     

Lawmakers Raghji Pant, Chanda Karki, Nagina Yadav, Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, Bimala Subedi, Madhav Sapkokta, Binita Kathayat, Narayani Sharma, Hemraj Rai and others took part in the discussions on the proposal.     

Likewise, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation Devendra Dahal tabled the annual report of the Muslim Commission of the year 2079/080 BS on behalf of the Prime Minister.     

Similarly, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak tabled the Nepal Police Bill, 2081 in HoR for clause-wise discussions.     

Today's HoR meeting also passed a condolence motion in the demise of Constituent Assembly (CA) Member Bidur Prasad Sapkota. Sapkota elected from Kavre in CA died on last Tuesday at the age of 59.     

The next meeting of the HoR will take place at 1:00 on February 24.(RSS)