United Nations Environment Programme

Read about the progress made by African countries in meeting their commitments under the Montreal Protocol

Patterns of Achievement, Africa and the Montreal Protocol

Highlights

The Regional Network of ODS Officers for English-speaking African countries provides a regular forum for National Ozone Officers aimed at strengthening and improving the capacities of the National Ozone Officers (NOOs) in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol; helping NOOs to share experiences and establish cooperation among themselves; facilitating feedback on Ozone Officers' activities, progress made, challenges and opportunities that exist; and identifying other needs of NOUs such as training and networking. During 2006, the Network held a total of three meetings including a joint one with the French-speaking Africa Network and a thematic meeting at national level on Green Customs Initiative.

The main focus of the meetings were on achievement by countries in the region of the reduction schedules as mandated by the Montreal Protocol; establishment, implementation and enforcement of legislative and regulatory mechanisms for the control and monitoring of trade in ODSs; the harmonisation of ODS control measures in the various sub-regions; review of implementation of the Work Plans and Business Plans of UNEP and other implementing and bilateral agencies for the region; compliance with recommendations of the Implementation Committee under the Non-compliance Procedure, the decisions of the Executive Committee and of the Meeting of Parties; stockpiling of ozone depleting substances; promotion of synergies between the Montreal Protocol and other Multilateral Environmental Agreements among others. The meetings had full participation of the Implementing Agencies, bilateral agencies, the Ozone Secretariat, the Multilateral Fund Secretariat as well as representation from the major economic groups in the region (SADC, COMESA, SACU, EACU, ECOWAS).

Achivements

Through the OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) in Africa there has been enhanced public awareness and the issue of ozone layer depletion has continued to receive in-depth interest at international and national policy level.

As part of its services, the CAP team based in ROA has continued to provide specialized support to countries in non-compliance or potential non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol. CAP has ensured that projects for countries that had been subject to non-compliance decisions and for which actions had not been taken were submitted to the meetings of the Executive Committee in 2006. As a result, no Party had remained in non-compliance without returning to compliance.

The CAP team in Africa focused on assisting 9 countries in the preparation and development of Terminal Phase-out Management Plans (TPMP) which will enable countries to ensure complete phase-out of their residual consumption of major ozone depleting substances.
Members of the Network were vigilant against illegal trade in ODSs as it can become one potential area with a danger of undoing all gains under the Montreal Protocol for the last twenty years. Four countries reported and dealt with cases of illegal trade. Developing a system for monitoring the trans-boundary movement of controlled ODS between Parties is therefore critical in the full implementation of Article 4B of the Protocol. OzonAction CAP will continue its efforts to train Ozone Officers and Customs Officers on best practices; to raise awareness and to disseminate examples of best practices for national licensing systems and regional cooperation to combat illegal trade.

In addition to twelve countries that have completed the ratification process of all the Amendments to the Protocol, all countries had submitted complete Article 7 data for 2004 and 2005 thus achieving total compliance in two consecutive years.

UNEP signed an MOU with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) on the implementation of the project on harmonisation of ODS regulations in the COMESA region. A regional workshop was convened in Madagascar to review the policy and common regulations on control of ODS substances. The overall goal is to eliminate ODS in the COMESA region so as to protect human health and the environment. The policy would provide direction and guidance for the development and implementation of regulatory framework for ODS in COMESA member states. Some general principles to guide the regulation of ODS have been proposed and include promotion of the right to clean and health environment, use of technology that promotes sustainable development, and implementation of a system for licensing the imports and exports of ODS. A work plan was developed for the implementation of the project. The policy document is to be presented to the ministers of agriculture and the Council of Ministers for final approval.

Cooperation with the World Customs Office (WCO) Intelligence Office for East and Southern Africa was enhanced with the continuation of the cooperation pact signed between UNEP and WCO in 2003 now being implemented by the Regional Capacity Building Centre (RCBC). The objectives of the Centre are to promote information sharing, coordinate implementation of customs best practices, strengthen competencies, and harmonize various customs procedures and processes. The RCBC participates in activities organised by UNEP/CAP such as Network meetings and the Green Customs Initiatives. Both organisations are working towards the establishment of a Sub-regional Enforcement Network for Customs Officers in East & Southern Africa.

Future Objectives

In the coming years, the English-speaking Africa Network will emphasise the following:

• Enhancement of collaboration between national enforcement authorities. Better coordination at the national level, as well as strengthening of the sub-regional cooperation will contribute to documenting and then curbing the problem of illegal trade. Countries that were experiencing illegal trade shall be encouraged to report such cases to the Ozone Secretariat so that the Parties could be assisted to address the issue.
• Improved detection of illegal trade through, among others, putting in place legislation, enforcement by customs and police authorities and control of re-exported ODSs.
• Carry out HCFC surveys in collaboration with IAs to assist countries to develop strategies for early phase-out as well as adoption of alternatives, including hydrocarbon technology;
• Strive to enlist political support at national levels to enhance compliance with the Montreal Protocol. Members will be encouraged to especially enlist the support of national legislative bodies through awareness raising.
• Establishment of ODS regulations and country-specific Action Plans and early detection of the risk of non-compliance and illegal trade.
• Urgent consideration of destruction and/or disposal of ODSs and ODS-based equipment.
• Active participation in discussions on the future of the Montreal Protocol.
• TPMPs to be developed and implemented to meet 2010 phase-out.
• Network members shall seek assistance from IAs and bilaterals to develop MDI National Strategies.