1- Summary for the Twenty-Second Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer - 8-12 November 2010
2- US EPA Finalizes Significant New Use Rule for Motor Vehicle Refrigerant
3- Angkor Wat Provides Historic Backdrop for Launch of Cambodia’s HPMP
4- More than 1100 Cylinders of Ozone Depleting Gas Seized
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GLOBAL
1- Summary for the Twenty-Second Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer - 8-12 November 2010
The twenty-second Meeting of the Parties (MOP-22) to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer took place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 8-12 November 2010. The meeting was attended by over 400 participants representing governments, UN agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, academia, industry and the agricultural sector.
MOP-22 opened with a preparatory segment from Monday to Wednesday, 8-10 November, which addressed the MOP’s substantive agenda items and related draft decisions. This was followed by a high-level segment on Thursday and Friday, 11-12 November, which adopted the decisions forwarded to it by the preparatory segment. As the preparatory segment did not conclude its work on a number of contentious issues by Wednesday, it reconvened several times during the high-level segment to address outstanding issues.
MOP-22 adopted 16 substantive and several procedural decisions, including on: the terms of reference (ToR) for the Technical and Economic Assessment Panel study on the replenishment of the Multilateral Fund; the ToR for the evaluation of the financial mechanism; assessment of technologies for ozone-depleting substances (ODS) destruction; budget; and data and compliance issues. MOP-22 was not able to make progress on low-global warming potential alternatives, or ODS destruction, which many delegates said were issues key to the long-term future of the Protocol. Although the draft decisions to amend the Montreal Protocol to include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) were not successful, their proponents remained committed to addressing HFCs through the Montreal Protocol in the future.
Read/Download the Full Report from IISD > http://www.iisd.ca/vol19/enb1979e.html
Read/Download the Report Compilation > http://www.iisd.ca/ozone/mop22/compilatione.pdf
See Also:
- Highlights from UNEP Ozone Secretariat @ http://www.unep.ch/ozone/highlights.shtml
- UNEP DTIE OzonAction Highlights from MOP 22 @ http://www.unep.org/ozonaction/
> African Countries Unite to Recognise Rajendra Shende, Head of UNEP DTIE OzonAction Branch, for Ozone Protection Leadership
Bangkok, 11 November 2010: Mr. Rajendra Shende, Head of the OzonAction Branch in the United Nations Environment Programme Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (UNEP DTIE), was awarded with a certificate of appreciation today during the opening ceremony of 22nd Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on the Protection of the Ozone Layer in Bangkok...Read more
> Inauguration of Exchange of letters between Government of Maldives, GTZ and UNEP on providing non-ODS, low-GWP air-conditioning systems to the Maldives.
Bangkok 12 November 2010, The Government of Maldives, GTZ and UNEP signed an Exchange of Letters to support the pledge of the Government of Maldives to become carbon neutral by 2020. The assistance will be provided via implementation of a pilot Air Conditioning programme in Maldives... Read more
> UNEP DTIE OzonAction launched latest publications and campaign at the opening session of the high-level segment of the 22nd Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol.... Read more
> What is the Status of the Antarctic Ozone Hole?...Read more
> Joint WCO/UNEP operation nets large haul of ozone depleting substances ...Read more
> Holing Out the Climate Enemies Action under the Montreal Protocol...Read more
> Smugglers Watch Out: Illegal Trade in ODS...Read more
> Taking the Montreal Protocol to the next level Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Montreal Protocol 2.0...Read more
> The informal Prior Informed Consent on Trade of Ozone Depleting Substances (iPIC)...Read more
NORTH AMERICA
2- US EPA Finalizes Significant New Use Rule for Motor Vehicle Refrigerant
To view the full text of the final rule, visit ASA's legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com
SOURCE: Motor Age- Nov 15, 2010? http://bit.ly/c8Dbtt
SOUTH ASIA
3- Angkor Wat Provides Historic Backdrop for Launch of Cambodia’s HPMP
Siam Reap, 14th November 2010 - The imposing structure of world’s single largest religious monument and UNESCO World heritage site –Angkor Wat -- provided an inspiring backdrop for the signing ceremony between the Kingdom of Cambodia and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for financial and technical assistance to eliminate the last major category of Ozone Depleting Substances under the Montreal Protocol.
This unique and ancient man-made marvel was the fitting site for the national launch of the last phase of the uniquely successful Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, another manmade solution to prevent the natural disaster of ozone layer depletion.
“The tourism sector has shown the growth of triple digits in recent years. The use of air conditioning in the hotels and resorts has therefore shown a steep rise. The use of air conditioning in urban areas has also been rising. Hence, eliminating HCFCs and using substitutes poses a challenge. But Cambodia is known to face challenges and we would meet the targets’ stated HE Dr.Mok Mareth, Senior Minister of Environment of Cambodia during the signing ceremony.
The agreement that was signed provides initial funding to the Kingdom of Cambodia to start the activities to phase out hydrochlroflurocarbons (HCFCs), which are mainly used in Cambodia in air conditioning equipment. US$ 1.6 million has been approved under the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol to eliminate use of HCFCs in Cambodia. This signing ceremony represented the launch of the activities to first meet the target of the freeze in the consumption of HCFCs, which is due by 1 January 2013.
“Angkor City, once the world’s largest city in the pre-industrial era, might have lost the battle against invaders, but let us not lose the lesson”, said Rajendra Shende , Head of the UNEP’s Paris-based OzonAction Programme. “Angkor Wat exemplifies ‘living with the nature’ and not ‘living on nature’. The use of natural and local materials, the deployment of the elephants and people’s power to raise the structure and draw on the force of the currents in the river to transport the material, are the core lowcarbon practices used centuries back. Today we need the similar practices.” stated Mr. Shende.
UNEP’s OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will provide the technology and policy support needed to strengthen the capacity of the government and the industry in Cambodia to enhance the energy efficiency of the air conditioners during the HCFC elimination process. Cambodia intends to deploy a dual strategy to deriving maximum benefits, i.e. protecting the ozone layer and strengthening energy security. Today, electricity demand in Cambodia outstrips the national supply and to meet the demand, Cambodia has to import electricity from neighboring countries. Considering that planned hydroelectric power plants will take time to come on-line, the use of energy efficient room air conditioners using HCFC-alternatives provides a unique mid-term opportunity for Cambodia.
Reviewing last 10 years of progress, Mr. Marco Gonzales, Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat of the Montreal Protocol, congratulated the Government of Cambodia: “Though Cambodia’s ratification came only 9 years back, it has made rapid progress and complied with all the control measures of the Montreal Protocol” said Mr. Gonzales during the function.
All the participants, which also included the HE Dr. Sou Phirin Governor of Governing Board of Siam Reap province; Dr. Jonathan Banks of the UNEP Technology and Economic Assessment Panel; Annie Gabriel , Member of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund and representative of Australia; HE Khieu Muth, Secretary of State, Dr. Lon Heal, Director General , and Mr. Pak Sokharavuth, Senior officer of National Ozone Unit, both from the Ministry of Environment of Cambodia; Atul Bagai, Megumi Seki and Thanavat Junchaya of UNEP; Balaji Natarajan of UNDP; along with number of the tourists visiting Angkor Wat later walked hand-in-hand in procession through the temple, with a banner in their hands as a symbol of their determination to restore the ozone layer, alongside the restoration of the
temple.
On the next day of the workshop, about 70 participants detailed the schedule of the activities for immediate implementation, for example inclusion of the HCFC phase out activities in the tourism and hotel management schools, incentives for energy efficient replacement of HCFCs and setting up the policies to monitor and control imports of HCFCs and HCFC-based equipment.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Thanavat Junchaya, thanavat.junchaya@unep.org
Regional Network Coordinator (South East Asia and the Pacific),
United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP-ROAP)
Click here to view related photos gallery >>>
4- More than 1100 Cylinders of Ozone Depleting Gas Seized
SOURCE: Deccan Herald, 10 November 2010, http://www.deccanherald.com/content/111646/more-1100-cylinders-ozone-depleting.html
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FEATURED
Latest from OzonAction
- To Discover the Newly Launched OzonAction Website, Go to >>> http://www.unep.org/ozonaction/
- Belize implements second scholarship programme to study Refrigeration and Air Conditioning at local institutions... Read more
EVENTs
- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE - IIR Commission B2 with B1 and D1
Ammonia Refrigeration Technology, April 14-16, 2011, Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia. Organized by:
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Skopje, and University "Ss. Cyril & Methodius".
Learn more @ www.mf.edu.mk
PUBLICATIONs - READING
- Out of the Maze Montreal Protocol, Climate Benefits and the Green Economy - OzonAction Special Issue, 2010- available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish, from UNEP DTIE - OzonAction @ http://www.unep.fr/ozonaction/information/mmc/lib_detail.asp?r=5376
- Call for Climate Protection Under Ozone Treaty - At the conclusion of the Montreal Protocol meeting in Bangkok on Friday, 91 countries had signed onto a declaration expressing support for taking action on HFCs under the Montreal Protocol - more than twice the number of Parties showing support last year (41), with additional countries expected to sign on in the coming days. Click here to read/download related IGSD press release
- Other articles from the New York Times and Nature:
"Support Grows for Expansion of Ozone Treaty": http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/12/support-grows-for-expansion-of-ozone-treaty/
"Ozone talks delay action on climate": http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2010/11/ozone_talks_delay_action_on_cl_1.html
WEBSITE - BLOG - AUDIO
- The Curious Case of HFC-23, David Doniger's Blog, Posted November 10, 2010
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ddoniger/the_curious_case_of_hfc-23.html
- Reworking the Ozone Treaty to Work for Climate Change
Air Date: Week of November 12, 2010
Delegates from 196 nations met in Bangkok to discuss further advancement of the Montreal Protocol. In 1987 the international community came together in Montreal to agree on limits to ozone-depleting chemicals. More than two decades later, organizers like Durwood Zaelke, president of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, are looking to see how lessons learned from that success might be applied to climate change. He talked with host Bruce Gellerman. Click here to listen to the interview