By James Losey, Thompson Hine LLP ( November 30, 2016, 2:05 PM EST) -- On Oct. 14, 2016, delegations of nearly 200 countries meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, at the 28th meeting of the parties to the Montreal Protocol, agreed to substantially phase down production and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — a class of commercially important chemicals used as coolants, refrigerants, and for other uses. If implemented, the HFC phase-down agreed to in the "Kigali Amendment" would make a major contribution to mitigation of global warming. In addition, it could have significant commercial upside for those companies that are developing and bringing to market the next generation of HFC-free technologies. However, with the recent election in the United States, it is an open question whether the incoming administration will be inclined to ratify the Kigali amendment and implement it domestically....