Climate Change Measure, Energy Bill Hitch Ride on Spending Deal

Chemicals used in air-conditioning and refrigeration that contribute to global warming will be phased out under a bipartisan deal that’s being attached to must-pass government funding legislation, a move lauded by environmentalists as a major climate win.

The agreement to limit the use of hydrofluorocarbons would put the U.S. on par with other nations that have either banned or agreed to phase out their use. Supporters of the measure, including trade groups that represent major air-conditioner and refrigerator makers, say the move could help avoid as much as a half-degree Celsius in global warming by the end of the century. ...