Control targets of Montreal Protocol achieved India has already achieved the control targets as per the Montreal Protocol, said Mr. Namo Narayan Meena, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, addressing the 19th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer at Montreal, Canada. He said that production phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) is progressing on schedule to meet the reduction targets under the Protocol, and India has phased out the use of CFCs in manufacturing aerosol products (excluding MDI), foam and all types of refrigeration equipment. Giving additional details about the phase-out programme, Mr. Meena said India has ratified all the amendments to the Montreal Protocol. The country has a licensing regime for imports and exports of ozone depleting substances (ODS), he added. The National Regulatory Measures have been designed in a manner that encourages, through fiscal incentives, enterprises that use non-ODS-based technologies. As to the consumption of carbon tetrachloride and CFCs in the servicing sector, the Minister said that it is largely represented by small and micro enterprises, which provide livelihood to thousands of people. With regard to freezing hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in 2016, Mr. Meena said that adequate funding for environment-safe substitutes and expeditious transfer of related technologies under fair and favourable conditions need to be ensured. This will assist developing countries in preparing strategies for taking action to meet the first target for HCFCs control measures under the Montreal Protocol. Source: www.pib.nic.in

Anniversary of Montreal Protocol celebrated On 16 September, India celebrated the thirteenth International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer to commemorate the date of signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The United Nations Environment Programme has declared “Celebrating 20 Years of Progress of the Montreal Protocol’s goals” as the theme for 2007, hailing the Protocol as the most successful international treaty to date. Mr. Namo Narayan Meena, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, in a message said that India has emerged as a global leader in promoting smooth transition for phasing out ozone depleting substances (ODS). He expressed satisfaction at the honour of the country being bestowed the Montreal Protocol Implementer’s Award. The chief guest Mr. Siddharth Behura, Special Secretary, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, administered the pledge to make efforts for preservation of ozone layer and promote use of ozone friendly goods and services. He credited the success of India’s ODS reduction to the cooperation and networking among different stakeholders, including producers and consumers of ODS, the state/central authorities, technical institutions, subject experts, NGOs and other organizations. Mr. Atul Bagai, Regional Co-ordinator of the United Nations Environment Programme, said that India played a great contribution in removing ODS. Source: www.pib.nic.in

Air India receives Environmental Protection Award The national carrier of India, Air India, has been awarded this year’s United Nations Environmental Protection Award. Air India is engaged in various environmental programmes including conservation of energy and other natural resources and hence the award came as a best recognition for its effort to global environment protection. Air India has received the Montreal Protocol Public Awareness Award for its continuous endeavour in various programmes following the guidelines of the Ozone Action programme of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). Air India, as one of the major international airlines, had participated in the UNEP Ozone Action Programme and is so far successful in limiting the use of chemicals in various fields. UNEP, in a long-term plan, had brought in all major airlines for an agreement of ‘halon bank management’ to decrease the use ozone-depleting substances. Source: www.newstrackindia.com

Delhi government to bring bill for checking ozone depletion The Chief Minister of Delhi, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, has said that her government would either bring in legislation that would provide for putting “Ozone Friendly Product” stickers on most-used ozone-depleting goods or adopt a central legislation to this effect, to ensure protection of the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere. Speaking at the inauguration of a seminar on Ozone Depleting Substances Phase-Out at Delhi Secretariat, Ms. Dikshit expressed pleasure at the fact that India would be receiving the Montreal Protocol Implementer’s Award on the occasion of 20th anniversary of the protocol. Since chlorofluorocarbons – used in air-conditioning, refrigerators, aerosols and foam products – deplete the ozone layer, she said it was essential to label stickers stating whether such goods are ozone-friendly products. Source: www.hindu.com

CFC-free inhalers for asthma patients After successfully phasing out ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from refrigerators and air-conditioners, India is now moving on to environment-friendly inhalers, used by asthma and bronchitis patients. When the world agreed upon the Montreal Protocol, CFCs in asthma inhalers were the last ones left for phase-out, as these were considered “essential drugs”. Even as the world celebrates the International Ozone Day on September 16, pharma companies are introducing new technology in their inhalers which is CFC-free, and hence not harmful to ozone. The new metered dose inhalers (MDI) use hydrofluoroalkanes (HFA) technology, which has been already been introduced in a range of inhalers by drug major Ranbaxy. The CFC-free inhalers cost 20 per cent more than the conventional ones. India, presently, has an estimated 15-20 million asthmatic patients and the estimated prevalence rate in 5-11 year old children is between 10-15 per cent. Source: www.economictimes.indiatimes.com

Tata Motors opts for HFC refrigerant The Chennai-based hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) company Refex Refrigerants will start supplies early next year to Tata Motors’ car plant in Pune. Refex will set up two 25-tonne storage tanks at the car manufacturer’s plant. “Our gas will be used in majority of the air-conditioned cars rolled out of Tata Motor’s Pune plant,” stated Mr. Anil Jain, managing director of Refex Refrigerants. Refex Refrigerants will install pipelines from the storage tanks up to the point inside the car plant where the air-conditioners are fitted. The Tata deal is the second such deal for Refex Refrigerants. Earlier the company had signed up with Hyundai Motor India to build another two 25-tonne capacity storage tanks at the automaker’s second plant, which will roll out 300,000 cars per year. Refex Refrigerants will be the sole supplier for Hyundai Motor’s second plant and the revenue potential is around Rs 125 million per year, says Mr. Jain. Source: www.domain-b.com

Air India mulls green drive forum to save ozone layer After bagging the Montreal Protocol Public Awareness Award, instituted by the United Nations, for its efforts in protecting the ozone layer, Air India is planning to rope in other airlines into its environment-friendly drive, under the umbrella “Airlines’ Forum for Environment Protection”. According to Mr. K.M. Unni, convener of the environmental committee, Air India, the idea to form a forum to protect the depleting ozone layers came up during Air India’s meetings with international agencies like the United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Reporting Initiative. Mr. Unni says the immediate issue is that the 2 per cent carbon dioxide emission contribution of the aviation sector may increase enormously by the phenomenal increase in air travel and acceptance of air travel as common man’s transport. With the increased activities in general and civil aviation and the stringent rules on emission and noise pollution activities, airlines across the globe have started adopting measures to curb the adverse effects on the environment. Source: www.financialexpress.com