The US
Senate could choose to approve or block the landmark HFC climate treaty that
bans the use of climate-changing chemicals.
While the
United Nations climate talks have approved and supported the climate treaty on
the ban on HFC chemicals and finalised deals with countries to avoid using the
chemicals in refrigerators and air conditioners, the US senate may vote not to
ban the products.
Coinciding
with the climate treaty approval is the enforcement of the Paris agreement.
American
experts on international environmental law said the new HFC agreement may
require two-thirds of the votes from the Senate. The new treaty on HFCs could
only start in 2019 if enough countries formally agree to join the treaty.
“This is
different from Paris, in that it requires ratification — and that’s concerning
to me,” said Michael Wara, and expert on energy and environmental law at
Stanford. “This is going to require getting Republicans to vote for it.”
If Trump
wins next month’s election, his campaign statements on environmental issues
strongly suggest he would not pursue American ratification of the HFC
agreement. But even if Hillary Clinton wins, Republicans may yet be able to
block America from entering into the agreement.
“I worry
about her ability to have enough cocktails with enough Republican senators to
get this over the hump,” Wara said. “That’s a heavy lift.”
