In 2013, the Obama Administration announced the Climate Action Plan. The plan included reducing carbon pollution in the United States, preparing the U.S. for the impacts of climate change, and pushing for international efforts to address climate change. In the first step to reduce the carbon pollution in the United States, Obama had already appointed the EPA to establish restrictions on carbon pollutions from power plants, permit renewable energy projects, increase funding on clean energy technology, as well as planning outlines to cut greenhouse gas emissions from HFCs (Climate Action Plan 2013). Ever since the proposal of this plan, there has been stronger implementation of reducing carbon pollution in the U.S. Just last September, the EPA announced new actions to curb hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) emissions, potent greenhouse gases released from refrigeration and air conditioning.
This commitment builds upon the existing GreenChill Partnership which is an EPA partnership launched in 2007 that teams up with supermarkets and food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change. After the first year of membership, GreenChill Partners has reduced their refrigerant emissions by nearly 10% (EPA GreenChill). There have been many prominent industries that have joined this partnership including Coca-Cola, Hillphoenix, Honey Well, Kroger, PepsiCo, Red Bull, and Target.
This new action of partnering with private industries goes to show the strength of the Climate Action Plan as it is able to outline a detailed reduction of HFCs within a year of when the plan was introduced. Although the U.S. is not banning HFCs, at least not yet, they are aware of the contribution these emissions are effecting the total greenhouse gas emissions (Koch 2015). Despite the U.S. ability to push for the reduction of carbon pollution, the issue still effects the global population. Worldwide, millions of people are still suffering from air pollution – the problem of greenhouse gas emissions does not stop at the national level.
Koch, Wendy. “Why Your Fridge Pollutes and How It’s Changing.” National Geographic. 6 March 2015. Web. March 2015. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2015/03/150306-why-your-fridge-pollutes-and-how-its-changing/>
Colaizzai, Jennifer. “EPA Announces New Actions to Curb Potent Greenhouse Gases/EPA GreenChill Partners Join Industry Leaders to Drive the Transition to Climate-friendly Refrigerants.” United States Environmental Protection Agency. 16 September 2014. Web. March 2015.<http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/bd4379a92ceceeac8525735900400c27/da76811e1c7bc4f085257d5500524f58!OpenDocument>
“FACT SHEET: Obama Adminstration Partners with Private Sector on New Commitments to Slash Emissions of Potent Greenhouse Gases and Catalyze Global HFC Phase Down.” Executive Office of the President Council on Environmental Quality. 16 September 2014. Web. March 2015. <https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/09/16/fact-sheet-obama-administration-partners-private-sector-new-commitments->
“The President’s Climate Action Plan” Executive Office of the President. June 2013. Web. March 2015. <https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/president27sclimateactionplan.pdf>
“GreenChill Partnership” United States Environmental Protection Agency. Web. March 2015. <http://www2.epa.gov/greenchill>