Montreal Protocol Parties to Convene for Kigali Meeting
The 38th Meeting of the Parties begins November 2, 2026, to review progress on the global phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Environmental
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The 38th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol is scheduled for November 2-6, 2026, in Kigali, Rwanda. This event will review international progress on the Kigali Amendment, which aims to phase down hydrofluorocarbons to mitigate global temperature increases.
Why it matters
The Montreal Protocol remains a critical mechanism for atmospheric protection, and this meeting marks a decade of efforts to replace potent greenhouse gases with climate-friendly alternatives.
The Kigali Amendment represents a decade of policy-driven transition to lower-global-warming-potential alternatives. Projections suggest that widespread implementation can prevent up to 0.5°C of warming by 2100 compared to previous refrigerant standards.
The players
Montreal Protocol
An international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances responsible for ozone depletion.
The details
The meeting focuses on the technical and policy oversight of the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer. Participants will engage in workshops and innovation exhibitions to address the technical challenges of phasing out hydrofluorocarbons—potent synthetic greenhouse gases used primarily in refrigeration and air conditioning. The agenda includes reviewing compliance frameworks and fostering partnerships to accelerate the adoption of sustainable cooling technologies globally.
Timeline
October 2016: The Kigali Amendment was adopted.
2-6 November 2026: The 38th Meeting of the Parties takes place in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Tech Race
This meeting marks a ten-year follow-up to the 2016 adoption of the Kigali Amendment, tracking the efficacy of the phase-down. It serves as a checkpoint to measure how successfully nations are transitioning from hydrofluorocarbons to more stable, low-impact cooling alternatives.
The meeting will host up to 1,000 global experts and policymakers at the Kigali Convention Centre to finalize cooling standards. These policy adjustments influence the manufacturing requirements and availability of commercial and residential refrigeration equipment worldwide.
The takeaway
The 2026 meeting serves as a high-level barometer for the global transition away from high-GWP refrigerants. Observers should track the partnership forum outcomes to identify shifts in adoption timelines for next-generation, sustainable cooling technologies.
Further reading
For broader context on international climate policies and ozone protection efforts, see our Environmental section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rwanda News Agency.
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