International agreement to accelerate phase-out of greenhouse gas chemicals
The agreement came at the conclusion of the 20th anniversary meeting of the Montreal Protocol, the international treaty that has already delivered a complete international phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and major reductions in other substances that deplete the ozone layer.
(Media-Newswire.com) - The world will strengthen action to protect the ozone layer by reducing the production and consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons ( HCFCs ) thanks to an agreement of Montreal Protocol countries yesterday, which will also create important benefits for the climate.
The agreement came at the conclusion of the 20th anniversary meeting of the Montreal Protocol, the international treaty that has already delivered a complete international phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons ( CFCs ) and major reductions in other substances that deplete the ozone layer.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said:
“This is an excellent result, and a fitting end to the 20th anniversary talks. I’m proud of the part the UK and its European Community colleagues have played in getting to this point. By strengthening what has already been a very successful international agreement, the world has shown that it is willing to face up to the stark realities of environmental damage and act together to agree major changes to the way we do things.
“This achievement shows us what can be achieved when international political will is brought to bear on serious environmental problems – a lesson that should give us a sense of ambition and purpose in what we can achieve in the fight against climate change, particularly going into the important talks in the UN and Washington next week and with a view to real progress at the crucial talks in Bali this December”
The agreement addresses one of the few remaining threats to the ozone layer. It will reduce the pollution burden on ozone and bring forward the healing of the ozone hole – which is now expected around the middle of the century.
It will also have a valuable climate change benefit because HCFCs are relatively powerful greenhouse gases, though produced in much smaller amounts than carbon dioxide.
Notes to editors 1. Following the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole, international efforts to protect the ozone layer began in the 1970s. In late 1985 governments recognized the need for stronger measures to reduce the production and consumption of a number of CFCs ( CFC 11, 12, 113, 114, and 115 ) and several Halons ( 1211, 1301, 2402 ).
2. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was adopted on 16 September 1987. The Protocol came into force on 1st January 1989, when it was ratified by 29 countries and the EEC. Since then 191 countries have signed up to the Protocol. Due to its widespread adoption and implementation it has been hailed as an example of exceptional international cooperation for environment protection. It works thorough control measures placed on the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances and sets out a mandatory timetable for the phase out of ozone-depleting substances, which has been under constant revision, with phase out dates accelerated in accordance with scientific understanding and technological advances.
3. As part of the earlier agreements hydrochlorofluorocarbons ( HCFCs ) were seen as a temporary solution to the need to phase out CFCs as they could be used as substitutes for CFCs. Although much less potent than CFCs, HCFCs deplete ozone and are also greenhouse gases. An HCFC refrigerant widely used around the world ( HCFC 22 ) has a global warming potential some 1800 times that of CO2. In a previous agreement, HCFC production and consumption was to be phased out by 2040 in developing countries and 2030 in developed countries. In practice many developed countries have already largely phased out their use of HCFCS whilst in developing countries the phase out is not due to begin until 2016.
4. At the 19th Meeting of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol, developing countries have agreed to an accelerated phase out of HCFCs. The agreement freezes their production and consumption of HCFCs at 2009/10 levels in 2013, reduces it by 10% in 2015, 35% in 2020 with a 67.5% reduction in 2025 and final phase out in 2030, subject to a small allowance for servicing existing equipment in the period 2030-2040.
5. Developed countries also agreed to an accelerated phase-out of 75% by 2010 and 90% by 2015 with final phase-out in 2020.
6. This is expected to hastening the healing of the ozone hole by some 3 years as well as reducing ozone depletion overall. Emissions of some 1 million ozone-depleting potential ( ODP ) tonnes of HCFCs or almost 8 million metric tones will be prevented and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of some 26 billion tonnes ( 26 giga tonnes ) of CO2 equivalent assuming the uptake and further development of zero or low global warming alternatives.
7. The Protocol’s Multilateral Fund ( UK contributions currently almost £6 million a year ) has been used to help provide financial assistance for developing countries to meet new phase out obligations that they agree to. At the Montreal meeting, developed country contributors to the Fund agreed to provide funding in upcoming replenishments of the Fund that were “stable and sufficient to meet all agreed incremental costs” of the phase-out.
8. Countries also agreed that future funding for HCFC phase-out should pay special attention or give priority to cost-effective projects that, amongst other things, focus on alternatives to HCFCs that minimize other impacts on the environment, including climate, taking into account global warming potential and energy use.
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