US Senate ratifies treaty to phase down climate-warming HFCs from refrigerators and air conditioners – but what will replace them this time?

Air conditioners are one source of leaking HFCs. Bruce Yuanyue Bi/The Image Bank via Getty Images

The U.S. Senate voted to ratify an international treaty on Sept. 21, 2022, and join 137 other countries in agreeing to phase out a class of climate-warming chemicals that are widely used as coolants in refrigerators, air conditioners and heat pumps.

If you’re getting a sense of déjà vu, don’t be surprised.