The 38th Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (MOP38) opened on November 2, 2026, in Kigali, Rwanda. The meeting aims to review and strengthen the implementation of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which was adopted in October 2016. The amendment commits countries to reduce hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) consumption by 80 percent by 2047. HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases that do not deplete the ozone layer but contribute to global warming.
One of the most consequential decisions at MOP38 is the amount of funding to provide to developing countries through the treaty's multilateral fund for 2027-2029. The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) estimates that funding requirements for the three-year period could range from $1.23 billion to $1.692 billion. The agency recommends a replenishment comparable to the record $965 million provided for 2024-2026. This funding will determine the resources available to phase down HFCs, transition to alternative cooling technologies, and improve energy efficiency.
Meg Seki, the Executive Secretary at the Ozone Secretariat, emphasized the importance of preserving the institutional capacity that has made the Montreal Protocol effective. "Our objective should not be to do less with less, but to work smarter, preserve what works well, and ensure that the Montreal Protocol remains effective and responsive to future challenges," Seki said. The treaty has already overseen the phase-out of 99.5 percent of ozone-depleting substances globally, with the ozone layer on a path to recovery.
Rwanda's Minister of Environment, Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye, highlighted the need for national systems capable of translating international commitments into practical changes. "Signals only matter when they are backed by clear rules. Licensing systems, quotas, standards, and technician training are essential tools for implementation," she said. Dr. Arakwiye also emphasized the need for coordination between environmental and energy authorities to link climate protection with energy efficiency and access to sustainable cooling.
The Kigali Amendment's success depends on accurate accounting for HFC production, import, and use. Concerns have been raised about discrepancies between reported HFC-23 emissions and estimates derived from atmospheric monitoring. Experts stress the need for better estimation, reporting, and monitoring. The agreement's implementation also requires investment in skills and infrastructure, particularly in developing countries.
Madi Sakandé, President of the Union of Associations of African Actors in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (U3ARC), highlighted the economic cost of failing to expand cooling infrastructure in Africa. "When we are importing food from other countries, the industries producing it generate emissions, while we waste our own food. This is the economic cost of failing to expand cooling infrastructure," Sakandé said. Anita Gikundiro, Director of Operations at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES), emphasized the need for technician training and safety standards.
The funding negotiations will help determine whether developing countries can strengthen enforcement, train their workforce, and expand access to cooling without locking themselves into technologies that carry a high climate cost. The test is whether the promise made in Rwanda can be felt in the farms, hospitals, cold rooms, and workshops that depend on cooling every day. The outcome of MOP38 will be crucial in achieving the climate benefits projected from the Kigali Amendment, which could approach 1°C by 2100.
Key points
- The 38th Meeting of the Parties to the Kigali Climate Protocol aims to address a $1.7 billion funding challenge for developing countries to implement the agreement.
- The Kigali Amendment commits countries to reduce HFC consumption by 80 percent by 2047, with full implementation projected to prevent up to 0.5°C of global warming by 2100.
- The agreement's success depends on accurate accounting for HFC production, import, and use, as well as investment in skills and infrastructure, particularly in developing countries.
