Josh Frydenberg has described Australia as a global leader in reducing powerful synthetic greenhouse gases usually found in refrigerators and air conditioners.
Th environment minister says Australia has cemented itself to reducing 85 per cent of hydroflourocarbon (HFC) emissions under the Montreal Protocol meeting held in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday.
More than 170 nations agreed to begin the legally binding accord on HFCs, which is being celebrated as the biggest environmental success since last year's Paris climate deal, which aims to limit the global temperature rise to 2C.
Mr Frydenberg said HFC gases are used in more than 45 million pieces of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and contribute up to two per cent of Australia's carbon equivalent emissions.
The reduction in emissions will be achieved through a gradually declining cap on imports and is estimated to achieve up to 72 billion tonnes in carbon dioxide equivalent emission savings by 2050.
"This will not only benefit the environment but provide long-term investment certainty to industry, allowing a gradual and low cost transition to alternative gases and equipment," Mr Frydenberg told AAP on Sunday.
