WASHINGTON (AP) — In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration is moving to roll back regulations on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases widely used in refrigeration and air conditioning. The previously signed bipartisan law aimed to curb these pollutants, widely acknowledged as contributing to climate change.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed changes to a federal rule established under the Biden administration, arguing it would simplify compliance and reduce costs for grocery stores and refrigeration companies. However, critics, including environmentalists, say this rollback could significantly harm ongoing efforts to transition to safer refrigerants, thus increasing climate pollution.
HFCs are known to be thousands of times more harmful than carbon dioxide, prompting a movement towards their phaseout under international agreements like the Kigali Amendment.
Environmental advocates have expressed concerns that loosening these regulations will create confusion within the market as many companies had already begun adjusting operations to meet the earlier compliance deadlines.
Industry groups previously supported the 2020 regulations, viewing them as a blueprint for environmental responsibility and economic growth. A premature rollback is seen as counterproductive, especially as companies worked hard to innovate and meet these new standards.
Epa Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the changes aim to address the constraints imposed on businesses, citing feedback from grocery and refrigeration sectors that have raised concerns regarding supply and cost issues.
Despite justifications surrounding economic relief, the move has undermined a prior commitment to climate action, potentially endangering both environmental and economic interests in a rapidly changing global market.
As the rollback faces scrutiny, many wonder whether this will spark further regulatory fragmentation, especially with states having their own stringent requirements for HFCs.
