18 US States and New York City Sue EPA Over Rollback of HFC Climate Protections

A coalition of 18 Democratic-led states, Washington, D.C., and New York City has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to delay restrictions on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), powerful greenhouse gases widely used in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems.

The petition, filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, targets a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that gives businesses more time to replace high-emission refrigerants with lower-impact alternatives. The states argue that the rollback could increase greenhouse gas emissions and undermine the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, which requires an 85% reduction in HFC production and consumption by 2036.

The rule, scheduled to take effect on July 27, would allow supermarkets, convenience stores, and bakeries to continue using certain remote condensing systems with refrigerants carrying more than nine times the previously permitted global warming potential until 2032. Critics say the extended timeline could penalize companies that have already invested in compliant technologies and slow progress toward reducing climate pollution.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose office is leading the legal challenge alongside Massachusetts and Washington, accused the administration of prioritizing industry interests over public health and climate protection.

The EPA has defended the rule, arguing that it will reduce costs for American families and businesses by preventing companies from being forced to adopt technologies that could increase expenses in sectors such as food retail and semiconductor manufacturing. The agency also said the measure supports President Donald Trump’s broader deregulation agenda.

The lawsuit adds to a growing series of legal battles over the administration’s efforts to reverse or weaken federal environmental and climate policies.

Multi-state HFC litigation shows how enforcement of climate-adjacent chemical rules is increasingly shifting into private and state channels. Our sustainability-due-diligence teams help clients evaluate what these legal battles mean for HVAC, refrigeration and chemicals-sector positioning and disclosure.