IPCC TO ADOPT MAJOR NEW REPORT ON SAFEGUARDING OZONE LAYER, GLOBAL CLIMATE SYSTEM

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 5 April (WMO/UNEP) -- The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)/United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will meet in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 6 to 8 April 2005 to finalize a special report on “Safeguarding the ozone layer and the global climate system:  issues related to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs)”.

This special report describes both scientific and technical information regarding alternatives to ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) that may affect the global climate system.  It addresses scientific linkages between stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change, and how the phase-out of ODSs is affecting climate change.  The HFCs have no ozone-depleting potential but are greenhouse gases.  They are used as replacements for ODSs in applications such as refrigeration and air-conditioning, foams, aerosol and solvents and fire protection.  The report assesses options for reducing emissions of these greenhouse gases, explores their technical feasibility and cost, and addresses environmental, safety and health considerations.

The report was requested by the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.  It has been prepared jointly by Working Groups I and III of the IPCC in cooperation with the Montreal Protocol's Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP).  The report will be accepted in Addis Ababa by delegates from over 100 countries, who will also approve a Summary for Policy Makers.

Journalists can cover this new report in two ways:

-- The report's Summary for Policy Makers will be posted on the Internet in English at www.ipcc.ch atnoon, Central European time, on Monday, 11 April 2005.

-- Telephone interviews can be arranged from Monday, 11 April 2005, noon, Central European time, with the IPCC Chairman, the Co-Chairs of IPCC Working Groups I and III, the TEAP Co-Chairs and other experts and scientists involved in preparing the report.

Interview requests can be addressed in advance to the contact persons below:

-- Michael Williams, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in Geneva, at +41 22 9178-242/244/196, +41 79-409-1528 (portable) or michael.williams@unep.ch.

-- Carine VanMaele, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), in Geneva, at +41 22-730-8314/15, +41 79-406-4730 (portable), or cvanmaele@wmo.int.

-- Melinda Tignor, IPCC Working Group I Technical Support Unit, in Boulder, Colorado, at +1 303 497-7072 or ipcc-wg1@al.noaa.gov.

-- Monique Hoogwijk, IPCC Working Group III Technical Support Unit, in Bilthoven, Netherlands, at +31 30 274-3499 or Monique.hoogwijk@rivm.nl.

For further information, please, consult the IPCC website:  www.ipcc.ch or contact the IPCC Secretariat.

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