Today the United States joined countries around the world to open a new chapter in the fight against climate change. Together, we have agreed on a way forward to address the rapidly growing use and production of harmful hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a particularly potent greenhouse gas that plays a major role in driving global climate change. At the 27th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Dubai, nations from around the world committed to address HFCs under the agreement and work toward an amendment in 2016.

This is a major accomplishment. The Montreal Protocol is among the most successful multilateral environmental treaties in history. Amending it to include HFCs could set a course for actions that would avoid 0.5C of warming by the end of the century.

The progress in Dubai also indicates that the world is ready for a new chapter in the fight against climate change. In agreeing to address HFCs together, we have laid the groundwork for even greater co-operation toward a successful outcome in Paris - and the entire planet will be better off for it.