WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after the U.S. Senate voted to ratify a major climate treaty, passing the Kigali Amendment to add hydrofluorocarbons to the Montreal Protocol, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), who voted in favor of the measure, issued the following statement:

“Today, the U.S. Senate took a major step to help combat climate change.  Reducing the use of potent hydrofluorocarbons stemming from refrigerants and air conditioning units is a win for cleaner air and a healthier planet.

“Ratifying the Kigali Amendment means the United States will join 137 other countries in committing to phasedown and limit these harmful greenhouse gases by 85 percent over the next 15 years.

“It’s also a win for U.S. manufacturers and innovation.  We are developing cleaner, next-generation refrigerant technologies here in the U.S.  Coupled with the climate investments in the Inflation Reduction Act, today’s ratification of this climate treaty is a bold step in the right direction.”