GOVERNMENTS AGREE ON STRONGER MEASURES TO PROTECT OZONE LAYER
Press Release
HE/922
GOVERNMENTS AGREE ON STRONGER MEASURES TO PROTECT OZONE LAYER
19951208 VIENNA, 7 December (UNEP) -- Some 110 governments concluded their work here today by agreeing to new commitments that will strengthen the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer."Once again governments have shown that good science and good will are effective weapons in the defence of the environment", said Martin Bartenstein, the Austrian Environment Minister and President of the meeting. "We have reached a good agreement that maintains the momentum of the international phase out of ozone-destroying chemicals."
The most significant part of the agreement is that industrialized countries will phase out methyl bromide by the year 2010. These countries account for some 80 per cent of the world-wide use of methyl bromide. They had earlier agreed only to a freeze by 1995, making methyl bromide the most powerful ozone-depleting substance not previously subject to a phase-out.
The agreed interim targets are a phase out by 25 per cent for 2001 and by 50 per cent for 2005. In addition, exemptions will be permitted for certain trade-related applications ("pre-shipment" and "quarantine") and for "critical agricultural uses". While it is generally understood that the latter exemption should be defined as narrowly as possible, its exact definition will only be considered in 1997 based on work to be carried out by the Technical and Economic Advisory Panel. The agreement also bans trade in methyl bromide with countries that are not Parties to the Protocol's 1992 Copenhagen amendment (which contains the 1995 methyl bromide freeze).
Developing countries, which previously faced no controls at all, have agreed to freeze methyl bromide by 2002 at average 1995-1998 levels. This will be reviewed in 1997 based on a report by the Panel and a decision will be taken on a phase-out schedule. The trade-related and "critical agricultural use" exemptions apply.
New controls will also be introduced on hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Until now, industrialized countries were committed to a phase-out by the year 2030. Their new, slightly tighter schedule is for a phase-out by the year 2020 with a "service tail" until 2030 permitting them to supply old equipment with HCFCs up to a ceiling of 0.5 per cent of 1989 levels. The cap on consumption until the year 2020 has been reduced by about 10 per cent.
(The cap, which was reduced from 3.1 per cent to 2.8 per cent, involves a formula that calculates a country's maximum HCFC consumption level during the phase-out period on the basis of its 1989 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) consumption levels.)
Developing countries, which have not had any HCFC controls before, agreed to a freeze for the year 2016 (on the basis of consumption levels in 2015) and to a phase out as of 2040. The Panel will advise on the impacts of this decision by the year 2000. HCFCs are used as a replacement for CFCs, but, although much less dangerous, they too deplete the ozone layer.
Another critical decision was the reaffirmation of the 2010 CFC phase out deadline for developing countries.
An important contribution to the willingness of developing countries to accept the new commitments was agreement that any new control measures for developing countries would require technology transfers and additional funding from industrialized countries. The multilateral fund that supports projects in developing countries has so far received $438 million since its establishment in 1991. The exact size of contributions to replenish it after 1996 will be discussed at next year's meeting.
"Governments must now maintain the momentum of Vienna by honouring their commitments to control ozone-depleting chemicals and contribute financing", says Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which hosts the Convention secretariat. "We cannot afford to rest on our laurels. The key is having the political will to prevent short-term economic and social interests from undermining the long-term need to protect the ozone layer."
Another important issue at the meeting was the problem of possible non-compliance with treaty obligations by a number of countries with economies in transition. Belarus, Bulgaria, Poland, Russia and Ukraine have acknowledged that they may miss their agreed phase-out targets. The meeting decided on various steps to assist these countries with their phase-out efforts.
Methyl bromide was a difficult issue because its use as a fumigant for export commodities and soils for certain crops makes it economically important. Some 70,000 tons are produced every year. A number of countries argued that the remaining scientific, technical, and economic uncertainties should be resolved, and substitutes clearly identified, before this chemical is controlled. Others argued that alternatives are available for almost all uses, as demonstrated by the Netherlands, which has almost completely phased out its consumption of methyl bromide.
- 3 - Press Release HE/922 8 December 1995
The two-week session included a four-day preparatory meeting followed by a three-day Meeting of the Parties at the ministerial level (5-7 December). There were about 500 participants, including some 40 ministers. The Montreal Protocol has been ratified by 150 countries.
Under the Montreal Protocol, industrialized countries are also committed to banning CFCs by 1996, halons by 1994, and carbon tetrachloride by 1996. Developing countries have until 2010. CFCs are inert odourless gases used in refrigeration, aerosols, foams, industrial cleaners, and many other applications. Halons are used in fire extinguishers. They destroy the stratospheric ozone layer, allowing more of the sun's ultraviolet light to reach the Earth's surface, where it can damage crops and other plants, cause skin cancer and cataracts in humans, and destroy the phytoplankton that underlies the marine food chain. Because CFCs and other chemicals remain in the atmosphere for decades, the ozone layer will be at its most vulnerable over the next decade.
Participants
The following parties to the Montreal Protocol were represented at the meeting: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, European Commission, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Also represented were the following seven non-party States: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Holy See, Mongolia, Morocco, Republic of Moldova and Rwanda.
Participants included 59 representatives of 17 United Nations entities, five representatives of two intergovernmental organizations, 102 individuals from 34 non-governmental organizations and 71 individuals from 38 industry groups.
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