Reduce the Worst Greenhouse Gases

The Problem

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are very detrimental greenhouse gases and a massive driver of climate change. Since 2016, the landmark United Nations (UN)’s Montreal Protocol is focused on regulating the production and consumption of HFCs. Previously the Montreal Protocol, which is one of the most successful global environmental treaties in history, helped to sidestep a potential catastrophe to the ozone layer by regulating ozone depleting substances. The Protocol was codified into US law in 1988 and has universal ratification by all UN member states. 
 

The Opportunity

There is an exciting opportunity to use data science to more tactically guide funding implementation. The benefits of this approach are twofold: we can fight climate change and reinforce our long-term commitment to preserving the integrity of the ozone layer. The UN’s Multilateral Fund has committed more than $4 billion to date (with an additional $1 billion added recently) to support implementation of the Montreal Protocol. 

Upon invitation from the Multilateral Fund, Schmidt DSE is co-creating interactive scientific tools to help inform international governments as they design potential greenhouse gas-reducing projects. In order to achieve the Montreal Protocol’s climate goals, world leaders need more powerful analytical tools to assess HFC consumption trends and understand the need for different policy interventions. 

Key Highlights

• New in 2024.
• Developing policy simulation toolkit for governments and users in 144 nations to optionally assist global climate policy analysis and implementation.
• Leading instructional workshops with UN staff and international governments on tool usage and development.

Our Impact

Our interactive mathematical model can help demonstrate impacts, trade-offs, and considerations in real time as 144 nations contemplate increasingly complex policy opportunities. In turn, this can help optimize the Multilateral Fund’s investments, including aiding countries in the planning and execution of phasing out HFCs, to improve other environmental co-benefits overall. The interactive, accessible platform will also help support decision making so that more resources are directed to creating real, lasting environmental and social outcomes. Moving forward, the tool will incorporate any additional proposed policy types explored in partnership with our UN colleagues. 

Future Vision

We look forward to rolling out this groundbreaking opportunity that will empower nations to design, select, and implement successful climate policies to reduce some of the world’s most potent greenhouse gases. In 2025 our priorities include pilot testing the tool with key users and refining the tool based on their feedback.