Indonesia will impose a ban on the
import of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and methyl bromide in January 2008,
putting the country two years ahead of the 2010 schedule for phase-out of
ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol. The ban makes
Indonesia one of the first few countries in the region to meet its
deadline of the CFC phase out ahead of schedule.
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary
General and UNEP Executive Director, said: "In a few short weeks nations
will gather in Bali, Indonesia for the UN climate convention meeting. Here
countries must urgently and earnestly address the need for a post-2012
greenhouse gas emission regime".
"Today's announcement by Indonesia is
a further good signal, among many positive signals this year, that
governments can move on the climate change challenge. The phase-out of
CFCs was agreed in order to protect the ozone layer. But new research has
shown that this phase-out has had the double environmental and economic
benefit of also helping to combat climate change-CFCs it emerges are also
powerful greenhouse gases," he added.
"And there are many other win-wins
that can be secured. In September, governments also agreed to an
accelerated freeze and phase-out of HCFCs-also controlled under the
Montreal Protocol-specifically because of their climate impacts. Perhaps
if we use our collective creativities we can pick more low hanging fruit
from phasing-out of old, energy inefficient light bulbs to more energy
efficient buildings," said Mr Steiner.
"Efforts by countries like Indonesia,
not only to comply with agreed upon targets under the treaty, but also to
meet them ahead of time, is testimony to their commitment to meet promises
made under the Montreal Protocol. Much time, effort and work has gone into
meeting these obligations, and Indonesia and other countries in this
region, who are continuously working to meet this 2010 deadline, should be
applauded for this effort," said Surendra Shrestha, Regional Director,
UNEP Asia and the Pacific.
With support provided by the
Protocol's Multilateral Fund, Indonesia reduced consumption of CFCs from
9,000 tons in 1996 to 2000 tons in 2005, used mostly by refrigeration, air
conditioning, and automotive sectors. Consumption of methyl bromide, not
under quarantine regulations, has dropped from 140 tons in 1994 to 32 tons
in 2005. Methyl bromide is used for soil treatment and fumigation.
"We feel confident that the ban will
encourage consumers to switch to ozone-friendly alternatives, although the
main challenge to effectively banning CFC is illegal trade. At the same
time, we also need to look at alternatives for the use of methyl bromide,
which is on the rise in this region", said Ms. Masnellyarti Hilman, Deputy
Minister for Nature Conservation Enhancement and Environmental Degradation
Control, Ministry of Environment, Indonesia.
Growth in consumption of methyl
bromide in quarantine applications in the region is more than 10% per
annum.
To address these issues, Indonesia is
hosting a meeting that brings together government officers responsible for
the Montreal Protocol from countries that are major producers and
consumers of ozone depleting substances (ODS), including exporters,
importers, and traders of those chemicals, Multilateral Fund implementing
agencies and related organizations in Bali today. The "A Special Dialogue
on Actions for Controlling and Monitoring ODS trade in South Asia/ South
East Asia" is being held with the first Regional Enforcement Network (REN)
Workshop, implemented with assistance from Government of Sweden, and the
Joint Meeting of South East Asia (SEAP) and South Asia (SA) Networks of
ODS Officers organized by the UNEP DTIE OzonAction Programme. UNDP is
providing technical inputs for this special dialogue.
The Joint Meeting of SEAP and SA
Networks of ODS Officers will take place 12-14 November 2007 following the
special dialogue hosted by Indonesia and REN Workshop, 8-10 November 2007
in Bali, Indonesia
Background Information:
Under the Montreal Protocol, which
went into force in 1987, ozone depleting chemicals are being successfully
phased out worldwide with assistance from the Montreal Protocol's
Multilateral Fund. Ozone chemicals like CFCs and halon have been phased
out in developed countries by 1996 except for small essential uses. By
2010, production of ozone depleting substances will be banned in
developing countries, including countries in Asia and the Pacific, a
region that accounts for 70 per cent of global consumption of CFC. To
date, the Multilateral Fund has already financed activities to phase out
of CFC consumption in more than 140 developing nations.
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP)
is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing
environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to
coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping
the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the
attention of governments and the international community for action.
The Montreal Protocol on Substances
That Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to
protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of a
number of substances responsible for ozone depletion. The treaty was
opened for signature on September 16, 1987 and entered into force on
January 1, 1989. Since then, it has undergone five amendments, in 1990
(London), 1992 (Copenhagen), 1995 (Vienna), 1997 (Montreal), and 1999
(Beijing). Due to its widespread adoption and implementation it has been
hailed as an example of exceptional international cooperation with former
Secretary General Kofi Annan quoted as saying it is "Perhaps the single
most successful international agreement to date...". The global community
celebrated 20th Anniversary of the signing of this ground breaking
international treaty on 16th September 2007 in Montreal .
About the Compliance Assistance
Programme (CAP) for Asia and the Pacific: The Montreal Protocol is at an
advanced stage of implementation. Developing countries now operate under a
"compliance phase" which requires them to achieve and sustain compliance
with specific obligations, promote a greater sense of country ownership
and implement the agreed Executive Committee framework for strategic
planning.
In 2002, as an Implementing Agency of
the Protocol's Multilateral Fund, UNEP responded to this new compliance
context by changing its mode of operation and structure to better assist
developing countries with the implementation of the treaty. UNEP's
OzonAction Programme established a Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP)
that moved from a project management approach to directly assisting
countries with specific compliance challenges. The CAP is delivered
through specialized staff located in four of UNEP's Regional Offices and
in the Paris office of the Division of Technology, Industry and Economics
(DTIE). Consistent with the above approach the CAP team in the Regional
Office for Asia and Pacific (ROAP) has developed to be the centre for
policy advice, compliance guidance and conduct training to refrigeration
technicians, customs officers and other relevant stakeholders on
compliance issues, promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation and
promote high-level awareness by utilizing UNEP's staff.
For more information about Division of
Technology, Industry and Economics and the OzonAction Programme, please go
to http://www.unep.fr/ozonaction
Multilateral Fund Information can be
found at http://www.multilateralfund.org/about_the_multilateral_fund.htm
Regional Enforcement Network (REN)
Workshop
The first Regional Enforcement Network
(REN) Workshop aims to enable the participating countries to improve the
control of illegal trade of ODS and to gain better control over their
import and export of hazardous chemicals and waste by promoting further
regional cooperation for the control of transboundary movement of those
chemicals.
Source:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
