150 nations agree major deal in Rwanda to cut greenhouse gases

About 150 nations meeting in Rwanda agreed a global deal to reduce greenhouse gases used in refrigerators and air conditioners, a Rwandan minister announced to loud cheers on Saturday, a major milestone in combating climate change.

The deal, agreed by US Secretary of State John Kerry, divides countries into three groups with different deadlines to reduce the use of factory-made hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases, said Minister Vinncent Biruta.

Developed nations, including much of Europe and the United States, commit to reducing their use of the gas by 10 percent by 2019. Two groups of developing countries will freeze their use of the gas by either 2024 or 2028, and then begin gradually reducing it.

(Reporting by Clement Uwiringiyimana; Writing by Katharine Houreld; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)