California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Air Resources Board (CARB) Chair Lauren Sanchez today led a multistate coalition of 17 attorneys general and the City of New York in filing a comment letter opposing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rulemaking that would weaken certain requirements designed to phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — chemicals used for refrigeration and cooling that are the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States and around the world. By extending compliance deadlines by several years and allowing for greater global warming potential (GWP) limits, the proposed rule would significantly undermine EPA’s current regulations under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act), which are designed to phase out HFCs by 85% by 2036. In the comment letter, the attorneys general argue that EPA fails to recognize how States and industry rely on the current regulations and that the new rule is contrary to law.
“At a time when the world is facing record heat and devastating wildfires, rising sea levels, and extreme weather, going backwards is not an option. Increasing HFC emissions will only accelerate the damage already threatening our planet,” said Attorney General Bonta. “That’s why, today, we’re urging EPA to abandon its proposed rule, which would significantly delay the phaseout of HFCs and undermine important climate progress. Reducing this super pollutant, as required by the current regulations, will protect future generations and the planet.”