Editing Montreal Protocol (section)

=== Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) ===
Under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, especially Executive Committee (ExCom) 53/37 and ExCom 54/39, Parties to this Protocol agreed to set year 2013 as the time to freeze the consumption and production of HCFCs for developing countries. For developed countries, reduction of HCFC consumption and production began in 2004 and 2010, respectively, with 100% reduction set for 2020.  Developing countries agreed to start reducing its consumption and production of HCFCs by 2015, with 100% reduction set for 2030.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ozone.unep.org/montreal-protocol-substances-deplete-ozone-layer/32506|title=The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer|website=United Nations Environment Programme|access-date=16 November 2018|archive-date=14 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014170949/http://ozone.unep.org/montreal-protocol-substances-deplete-ozone-layer/32506|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons, commonly known as HCFCs, are a group of human-made compounds containing hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine and carbon. They are not found anywhere in nature. HCFC production began to take off after countries agreed to phase out the use of CFCs in the 1980s, which were found to be destroying the ozone layer. Like CFCs, HCFCs are used for refrigeration, aerosol propellants, foam manufacture and air conditioning. Unlike the CFCs, however, most HCFCs are broken down in the lowest part of the atmosphere and pose a much smaller risk to the ozone layer. Nevertheless, HCFCs are very potent [[greenhouse gas]]es, despite their very low atmospheric concentrations, measured in parts per trillion (million million).

The HCFCs are transitional CFCs replacements, used as [[refrigerant]]s, solvents, blowing agents for plastic foam manufacture, and fire extinguishers. In terms of [[ozone depletion potential]] (ODP), in comparison to CFCs that have ODP 0.6–1.0, these HCFCs have lower ODPs (0.01–0.5). In terms of [[global warming potential]] (GWP), in comparison to CFCs that have GWP 4,680–10,720, HCFCs have lower GWPs (76–2,270).{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}