A man from California has been charged with the first case of smuggling greenhouse gases into the United States.
Michael Hart, a 58-year-old resident of San Diego, was apprehended on Monday for reportedly illegally importing prohibited refrigerants known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from Mexico into the United States. This man had allegedly concealed chemicals in his vehicle and sold them on various online platforms, including Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp, for personal gain. Additionally, he is accused of smuggling HCFC 22, a substance that harms the ozone layer.
Hart has denied the charges against him. He is being accused of conspiring, illegally importing, and selling goods that were imported illegally. These charges stem from a law passed in 2020 that prohibits the importing of HFCs without permission from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are synthetic gases that were introduced as a replacement for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were harmful to the ozone layer and banned in 1987. HFCs gained popularity in the 1990s and contributed to the growing demand for air-conditioning worldwide.
Although HFCs do not harm the ozone layer, they are a very strong greenhouse gas that is much more potent than carbon dioxide. Despite only making up a small portion of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, they have a significant warming impact and have a short lifespan of 15 years.
The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, agreed upon by world leaders in 2016, aimed to decrease the use and production of HFCs. It was set to become effective in 2019. In 2020, the US passed the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, which prohibited the import of HFCs without approval from the EPA.
This is the first time the Department of Justice is prosecuting someone for illegally importing greenhouse gases, and it will not be the last. US is using every possible means to protect planet, including bringing criminal charges against perpetrators.
Reference- The Washington Post, Futurism, EPA website, US Department of Justice Newsroom