UNEP WINS 2005 STRATOSPHERIC OZONE PROTECTION AWARD

 

US Government’s Prestigious Ozone Prize Goes to UN for First Time

(Reissued as received.)

WASHINGTON/PARIS, 4 May (UNEP) -- For the first time ever, a United Nations programme, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has won the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award.

The prestigious prize, presented today here in Washington, D.C., has been awarded to the Paris-based OzonAction Branch of UNEP’s Division of Technology, Industry and Economics.

Announcing the Award, the US EPA praised the “leadership and innovation of the OzonAction Programme” and said it has benefited well over 140 countries through its unique regional networks of National Ozone Units and global information clearinghouse.

“The appreciation of the Award panel highlighting UNEP’s leadership and innovation is not only rewarding, but also encouraging for our further work”, said Klaus Toepfer, UNEP Executive Director.  “The Montreal Protocol is succeeding in its objective of phasing out the global production and consumption of ozone depleting substances, but there is still much work left to be done, particularly in developing countries”, he said.

“A key factor in the success to date has been financial resources provided to help implement the Protocol”, said Mr. Toepfer.  “In this regard, it is important that one of the key mechanisms underpinning the treaty, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is adequately replenished this year.  This will help ensure that we finish the job, not only for ozone, but also for other global environmental treaties”, he said.

Accepting the Award on behalf of UNEP, Rajendra Shende, head of the OzonAction branch, said:  “The Award reminds us of what can be achieved when the commitment of the poorest nations to protect the Earth for future generations is combined with the resolve of the richest countries to do their part for peace, prosperity and environmental health.  What you get are amazing global success stories that go beyond conventional thoughts and immensely benefit humanity”, he said.

Global efforts to protect the stratospheric ozone layer were formalized through an international treaty agreed in 1987 called the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone layer.

The ozone layer, which absorbs ultra-violet radiation harmful to living organisms and human health, is in danger from several chemicals currently used in industry and agriculture such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform and methyl bromide.

“The treaty is bearing fruits”, said Mr. Shende.  “According to the best scientific knowledge, the chemicals that have been destroying the ozone layer are now ‘at or near peak’, and could begin to dissipate slowly -- if nations stay the course.”

The participation in the effort is almost universal with 189 countries having ratified the Protocol.  And the international agreement is increasingly being recognized as a rare and important multilateral success story.  In his recent report entitled, “In Larger Freedom:  Towards Development, Security and Human Rights for All”, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan described the Montreal Protocol as an “encouraging example showing how global solutions can be found”.

Since 1991, the OzonAction Programme has provided services that assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition to achieve and sustain compliance with the Montreal Protocol.

OzonAction empowers the focal point for this multilateral environmental agreement (known as National Ozone Units) through an information clearinghouse, training and regional networking.  The programme simplified the messages from the Protocol’s Technology and Economic Assessment Panel to help countries to make informed decisions about alternative technologies and ozone-friendly policies.

The UNEP is one of the four implementing agencies of the Multilateral Fund that was set up to assist developing country parties to the Protocol.  Over
12 years, nearly $2 billion has been disbursed to 145 developing countries to enable them to comply with it.

Note to Editors:

The US EPA established the annual Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award in 1990 to recognize exceptional leadership, personal dedication, and technical achievements in eliminating ozone-depleting substances.

Information on the UNEP OzonAction programme can be found at: http://www.unep.fr/en/branches/ozonaction.htm

Information on the US EPA's Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award can be found at http://www.epa.gov/Ozone/awards/index.html

For more information, please contact:  Robert Bisset, UNEP Spokesperson in Europe, in Paris, on tel: +33-1-4437-7613, mobile: +33-6-2272-5842, e-mail: robert.bisset@unep.fr; or Jim Sniffen, UNEP Information Officer in New York, on tel: +1-212-963-8094/8210, e-mail: sniffenj@un.org; or Eric Falt, Director, Division of Communications and Public Information, in Nairobi, on tel: +254-20-623292, mobile: +254-733-682656, e-mail: eric.falt@unep.org; or Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson, on tel: +254-2-623084, mobile: +254-733-632755; e-mail: nick.nuttall@unep.org

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