By Valerie Volcovici

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday finalized a rule that will slash the use of a potent climate-warming gas commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners by 85% over the next 15 years, a move that will help halve greenhouse gas emissions this decade.

The rule is intended to eliminate hydrofluorocarbons from common appliances. It would allow the U.S. to be compliant with Kigali’s amendment to Montreal Protocol. The Montreal Protocol is a treaty that reduces HFCs. However, the U.S. still hasn’t ratified it.

Gina McCarthy, National Climate Advisor, said Tuesday night that the move sends out a message to the rest the world about climate change.

With just six weeks remaining before the crucial UN climate summit, this rule is in effect. While President Joe Biden has several climate initiatives in executive action, other important climate proposals depend on Congress passing infrastructure and budget bills.

McCarthy claimed that McCarthy does not know when Biden plans to send the Senate the amendment for ratification.

The EPA stated that the rule was one of the most important in climate impacts. Along with additional interagency measures, it can reduce 4.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent by 2050 — equal to nearly three years of U.S. power sector emissions at 2019 levels, according to a White House fact sheet.

The EPA rules establish an allocation trading and trading system for HFCs. It is currently reviewing more than a dozen petitions to limit HFC use in different applications.

On Thursday, the White House and the EPA announced that they will use an interagency approach in order to stop illegal production, trade, sale, and distribution of HFCs. They also plan to prepare enforcement actions to penalize violations.