The Senate yesterday backed a motion by the Greens to phase down the use of hydroflurocarbons (HFCs).
The motion called on the government to support efforts to phase down HFCs through the Montreal Protocol.
For the fourth year in a row the nations of the world will gather at the Meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol to consider amendment proposals to address the threat to the climate posed by HFC refrigerant gases.
This year's meeting in Geneva will be held from November 12 - 16, 2012, and marks the 25th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol.
The Leader of the Greens, Senator Christine Milne, said extreme weather is wreaking hovoc around the world.
"It is time we worked cooperatively and ambitiously in the global community to stop the pollution that drives global warming, and that includes refrigerants like HFCs, not just coal, oil and gas," Milne said.
"Micronesia, Canada, Mexico and the United States have proposed an amendement to the Montreal Protocol to phase down the production and consumption of HFCs, with the support of at least 108 Parties.
"As we approach the Meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol in November, I call on the government to support this important initiative and work with the international community to stop using these chemicals which are so harmful to our climate and move to commercially available green cooling products," she said.
"We need to also use our expert diplomatic clout to work with the governments of India, China and Brazil to urge them to stop blocking discussion and agreement.
"I am delighted the government is supporting this motion and look forward to working together to phase down HFC production for a healthier planet."
The Australian Refrigeration Association president, Tim Edwards, said the projected growth of HFCs needs to be stopped to prevent current climate benefits from being eroded.
"Expanding the focus of what is frequently recognised as the world's most successful environmental treaty is a fitting way of celebrating the achievements of the Montreal Protocol in saving the ozone layer, and the significant climate protection benefits it has delivered," Edwards said.
"As the world moves to phase out HCFCs, the contribution of HFCs to global warming is rapidly increasing, and could become 14 per cent - 27 per cent of the increase in the warming impact of CO2 from 2010 to 2050.
"The Montreal Protocol presents the only viable way of causing united global action to control this rapidly emerging threat to the climate."
Edwards said developed countries such as Australia have a responsibility to take a leading role to bring about a global agreement at this year's historic meeting of the Montreal Protocol.
"By putting in place a carbon price on HFCs, as part of the Clean Energy Future reforms, the Australian Government has demonstrated a commitment to reduce HFC use," he said.
"The fact is that natural refrigerant solutions are available that are more energy efficient than HFC systems, and have no/low direct emissions due to refrigerant leakage."
Edwards said failure to deal swiftly with HFCs will only make the job of reducing global warming emissions more difficult.
"Australian companies are at the forefront of developing solutions to replace HFCs with energy efficient solutions. They stand ready to make natural refrigerant solutions available to assist in a Montreal Protocol driven HFC phase out," he said.
