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Agreement to speed up greenhouse gas phase-out |
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Governments of almost 200 countries have agreed to accelerate
the elimination of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), a major
group of greenhouse gases that depletes ozone. The agreement
will speed up a treaty to freeze and phase out HCFCs, which
are used in some refrigerators, home appliances, hair sprays
and air-conditioners, said Mr. Nick Nuttall, spokesman for the
United Nations Environment Programme. “With this plan of an
accelerated freeze and accelerated phase-out, we could have
potentially significant benefits arising in terms of combating
climate change and ozone loss,” Mr. Nuttall said.
Developed countries have agreed to reduce production and
consumption by 75 per cent by 2010 and by 90 per cent by 2015
with final phase out in 2020 – 10 years sooner than the
earlier agreement. Developing countries have agreed to cut
production and consumption by 10 per cent in 2015, by 35 per
cent by 2020 and by 67.5 per cent by 2025 with a final
phase-out in 2030. The governments also agreed to commission a
short study by experts to fully assess the likely costs of the
acceleration.
United Nations climate experts said in a recent report that
the atmosphere could be spared the equivalent of 1 billion
tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions if countries used ammonia,
hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide or other such ozone-friendly
chemicals, rather than HCFCs and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), in
foams and refrigerants.
Source:
www.ap.google.com |
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United Nations chief lauds push to hasten HCFC
phase-out |
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Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, has
welcomed the recent agreement by the signatories to the
Montreal Protocol to accelerate the freeze and phase-out of
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), a class of chemical
compounds that hastens ozone layer damage and climate change.
Participating countries, meeting to celebrate the 20th
anniversary of the Protocol, signed up to halt the production
of HCFCs in 2013 and push forward their elimination by ten
years. The acceleration may also assist in restoring the
health of the ozone layer by several years. HCFCs emerged as
replacement chemicals in the 1990s for air-conditioning, some
forms of refrigeration equipment and foams, following an
earlier decision to eliminate chlorofluorocarbons that damage
ozone more.
Mr. Ban stressed that global efforts to protect the ozone
layer and to address climate change are mutually supportive.
He also pointed out that the new agreement includes a
commitment to sufficiently fund the strategy of phasing out
HCFCs, and voiced hope that Member States will tackle the
issue of greenhouse gas emissions with the “same urgency and
boldness”.
In a related development, the Secretary-General also said that
time is running out in halting climate change, which he has
identified as one of his top priorities. “We must begin to
attack the problem right now,” he wrote in an op-ed published
in some newspapers such as the Italian newspaper Il Sole 24
Ore. While industrialized countries – responsible for creating
a bulk of the problem – have the greatest responsibility to
reduce emissions, developing countries must be encouraged to
join the effort while simultaneously stimulating their
economic activity and wiping out poverty, he said. Decisive
action is crucial, and “business as usual will not do,” he
stated.
Source: www.un.org |
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Call in Bangladesh to phase out ODS by 2010 |
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The International Ozone Day was observed in Bangladesh, laying
emphasis on phasing-out of ozone depleting substances (ODS) by
December 2010, a universal timeframe under the Montreal
Protocol. Bangladesh, a signatory to the Montreal Protocol,
has been observing the day since 1995.
Speaking at a seminar arranged on this occasion in the city,
experts called for sensitizing the common people about the
harm that ODS cause to ozone layer. They urged the government
to take steps for the recovery of chlorofluorocarbons used in
the refrigerators and air-conditioners and for strengthening
the on-going training programme for technicians of the
chilling sector as well as distributing more recovery kits to
stop release of the gases in the air.
Source:
www.thedailystar.net |
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Sri Lankan government assists CFC conversion |
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In Sri Lanka, the National Ozone Unit of the Ministry of
Environment and Natural Resources has launched a project to
encourage the conversion of CFC refrigeration to non-CFC as a
measure to protect the ozone layer. Industrial and commercial
R 12 and R 502 refrigerators can be converted to non-CFC under
the programme.
Food and beverages stores, fish and meat shops, hospitals,
hotels and canteens, super markets and freezer transport
sectors can apply for the concessions. However, domestic
refrigerators and air-conditioners, are not eligible for the
grants. Sri Lanka has banned importing CFC freezers from 2008
January.
Source:
www.colombopage.com |
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Indonesia to stop importing CFC next year |
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Indonesia will stop importing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and
methyl bromide for non-quarantine and shipment activities from
next year, an environmental official said. “Indonesia has
gradually stopped importing ozone depleting substances since
1998,” said Ms. Kusmuliani, from the office of the Environment
Minister, during a workshop on the reduction of CFCs use.
She said that Indonesia’s import of the three types of the
ozone depleting substances (ODS) had continued to be reduced
since 1998. In 2004, Indonesia imported 5,546 tonnes of ODS.
The figure drastically dropped to not more than 1,122 tonnes
in 2007. “Beginning next year, Indonesia will stop importing
the substances, particularly for non-quarantine purposes,” Ms.
Kusmuliani said.
This, however, does not mean that the country’s import of ODS
will be nil because it still has to buy them for quarantine
and shipment purposes, Ms. Kusmuliani added. She said the
substances were needed, among others, to clean pests in
quarantine warehouses and shipment. Since early 2007,
Indonesia has imported 22 tonnes of ODS for these purposes.
The country belongs to the group of countries that consume a
small volume of ozone depleting substances, namely about 0.3
kg per capita per year.
Source:
www.antara.co.id |
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Viet Nam delivers on Montreal Protocol |
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Viet Nam has been effective in implementing the Montreal
Protocol on ozone-depleting substances, said an official from
the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE).
According to Mr. Nguyen Khac Hieu, Vice Director of the
Department of International Relations, a decree has been
issued forbidding the import of freezing equipment that use
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). MoNRE has also issued, jointly
with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, a circular to control
import and export of ozone depleting substances (ODS).
To help Viet Nam effectively implement the provisions of the
Montreal Protocol, the Multilateral Fund provided a grant of
US$6.3 million last year to transfer technology to local
businesses, which use ODS in the production and repair of
refrigerators and car air-conditioners. The Fund also provided
technical assistance to help improve management capacity of
state agencies in controlling these substances.
Viet Nam also worked out a plan of action that focuses on
setting up units to collect and recycle halons, regularly
monitor the use of CFCs in car air-conditioners and provide
technical equipment for businesses that manufacture products
using ODS. Thanks to these efforts, the total volume of ODS,
such as CFC-11 and CFC-12, used in the country reduced to 75
tonnes at present from 500 tonnes in the 1990s. The combined
amount of other ODS now stands at some 2,300 tonnes.
Source:
www.english.vietnamnet.vn |
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Thailand commits to zero imports of CFCs by 2010
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Thailand will comply with an international ban on imports of
ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by 2010, according
to the state-run Thai News Agency (TNA). The Department of
Industrial Works (DIW) has committed itself to the zero-import
target as part of activities marking the International Ozone
Day, the report said.
CFC use has been phased out worldwide and by Thailand-based
manufacturers by turning to alternative chemicals. “The ozone
layer has recovered to some degree after several countries
have reduced use of ozone-depleting chemicals by 95 per cent,
or 1.8 million tonnes, equal to the decrease of 25 billion
tonnes of carbon dioxide, which can help slow down the global
warming for about 10 years,” said Mr. Adisorn Naphavaranonth,
the DDG of DIW.
Source:
www.earthtimes.org |
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Joint ventures in refrigerant fluids target
Asia-Pacific |
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Arkema, France, has announced the creation of two
joint ventures in partnership with Daikin, Japan – one for the
production of HFC-125 in China and the other for marketing
refrigerant fluid blends in the Asia-Pacific region. The
expertise of both companies in the production and blending of
hydrofluorocarbons together with their overall market position
establish this partnership as the leader for refrigerant
fluids in the Asia-Pacific region.
Arkema Daikin Fluorochemicals Co. Ltd., a 60 per cent Arkema
and 40 per cent Daikin joint venture, is to focus on the
production and marketing of HFC-125, an essential component of
the new generation refrigerant blends, which include the
R-410A blend due to replace HCFC-22. Arkema will provide its
process and technological expertise for the design and
construction of the plant, which will be located on its
Changshu site. This large-scale plant, the first of this size
in Asia, will come on stream in 2010. Daikin Arkema
Refrigerants Asia Ltd., a 60 per cent Daikin and 40 per cent
Arkema joint venture, will produce and market new-generation
HFC refrigerant fluid blends, in particular the R-410A blend,
in the Asia-Pacific region.
Source:
www.home.businesswire.com |
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