The global push against hydrofluorocarbons

To take a significant bite out of the world’s greenhouse gas ­emissions, governments are on the verge of a new agreement that will depend heavily on the chemical industry to succeed.

Negotiators are working to clinch a deal later this month that will map out the global phaseout of hydrofluorocarbons. These synthetic gases are used widely in refrigeration and are potent greenhouse gases. The chemical industry, which has made HFCs for decades, is expected to . . .