HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

150th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 60

SUPPORTING THE GOVERNOR'S DIRECTIVE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO PROPOSE REGULATIONS FOR THE USE AND MANUFACTURING OF HYDROFLUOROCARBONS.

WHEREAS, Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are used as replacements for ozone-depleting substances in air conditioning, refrigeration, foam-blowing, solvents, and aerosols; and

WHEREAS, HFCs are organic compounds that contain fluorine and hydrogen atoms, and are the most common type of organofluorine compounds; and

WHEREAS, HFCs still do contribute to global warming; and

WHEREAS, HFCs’ atmospheric concentrations and contribution to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are rapidly increasing, causing international concern about HFCs’ radiative forcing; and

WHEREAS, on October 15, 2016, negotiators from 197 nations meeting at the summit of the United Nations Environment Programme in Kigali, Rwanda reached a legally-binding accord to phase out HFCs in an amendment to the Montreal Protocol; and

WHEREAS, emissions of HFCs are growing at a rate of 8% per year; and

WHEREAS, HFCs are entirely man-made; and

WHEREAS, HFCs can be hundreds to thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) in contributing to climate change per unit of mass.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 150th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the General Assembly expresses support for the Governor’s directive to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to propose regulations for the use and manufacturing of HFCs by March 30, 2020.

SYNOPSIS

This Concurrent Resolution supports the Governor's directive to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to propose regulations for the use and manufacturing of Hydrofluorocarbons by March 30, 2020.