HFC Smuggling: Preventing the Illicit (and Lucrative) Sale of Greenhouse Gases

Abstract

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a pivotal development in global cooperation to stem climate change. Through incorporating hydrofluorocarbons into the Montreal Protocol, the international community will be able to combat the deleterious effects of a common, yet potent, chemical. Nonetheless, the United States and its fellow parties will likely have to combat an illicit trade in these banned substances in the immediate future. Through lessons learned from the original Montreal Protocol, the United States can effectively combat smuggling and ensure the Kigali Amendment’s success.