A contribution to avert
a global health catastrophe
Chiangshou,China 1 July 2007 - China, the
world's largest producer of chlorofluorocarbons
(CFC) and halon, today shut down five of
its six remaining plants, putting the country
two and a half years ahead of the Montreal
Protocol's 2010 deadline for phase-out of
the two ozone depleting chemicals.
The facilities were closed during a symbolic
ceremony organized by Chinese authorities
in recognition of chemical companies' efforts
to stop manufacturing products that harm
the ozone layer and as part of the global
'Remembering Our Future' initiative sponsored
by the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP).
Such chemicals contribute to weaken the
Ozone layer allowing for dangerous ultraviolet
radiation producing skin cancer, eye cataracts
and suppression of human immune system.
Without the Montreal Protocol, levels of
ozone depleting substances in the atmosphere
would have increased tenfold by 2050, which
could have led to up to 20 million more
cases of skin cancer and 130 million more
cases of eye cataracts relative to 1980.
The shut down of the five facilities, in
Chiangshou City, near Shanghai, will bring
China's production of CFCs to just about
550 metric tons, down from 55,000 metric
tons at its peak in 1998. The remaining
production is being kept strictly to produce
CFCs for metered-dose inhalers, used in
the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. The phase-out of the
majority of CFC production marks the second
major class of ozone depleting chemicals
that China has ceased to produce. China
has also recently ended the production of
halon for emissive use, in other words,
any use that will have the chemical eventually
end up in the atmosphere.
China became the largest producer of ozone
depleting chemicals following the shut down
of plants producing these chemicals in developed
countries in 1996. The closure of the Chinese
plants now puts India and South Korea as
leading producers of the two ozone depleting
chemicals in Asia Pacific, with a remaining
combined production level of about 15,000
m/tons.
Achim Steiner, UN Under Secretary-General
and Executive Director of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), said: "On
the 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol,
with more than 95% of the ozone depleting
substances being phased out, the Protocol
is among the great success stories of recent
years. This success underlines how, with
political will, creative financing mechanisms
and the support for industry and NGOs, the
international community can rise to the
challenge of sustainable development."
"New research findings in 2007 also
confirm that the phase outs are having other
positive impacts, including on climate change.
Scientists calculate that, over the period
11000 to 2010, the level of reductions will
also equate in climate terms to the equivalent
of eight Gigatonnes of carbon dioxide a
year. This is one example of a virtuous
circle, and I am convinced there are many
others linked not only with ozone, but across
a wide array of environmental treaties and
agreements," Steiner said.
Katherine Sierra, Vice President for Sustainable
Development at the World Bank, said: "The
closure of CFC production facilities in
China is marking a significant milestone
not only for the Montreal Protocol, but
also for the cooperation between the Government
of China and the industry in their efforts
to restore the ozone layer. A depleted ozone
layer would have both adverse health and
economic impacts to all nations. Action
taken by China today contributes significantly
to the global efforts in averting the global
catastrophe on human health and ecosystem”
Added Sierra: "The Multilateral Fund
has enabled China to contribute to the global
efforts in protecting the ozone layer on
an equal footing with all other nations
without compromising its goal on sustainable
development."
Chlorofluorocarbons are used in refrigerators
and air conditioners, while halons are found
in fire extinguishers. Thirty-one CFC/halon-producing
factories have already been shut down earlier
by Chinese authorities with support from
the World Bank and the Montreal Protocol's
Multilateral Fund. Closures were made possible
because China has, over the years, developed
ozone-friendly alternatives and adopted
alternative technologies.
"The closure of these plants demonstrates
China's continued commitment to meet its
obligations under this treaty to phase out
these chemicals. With the closing of these
facilities, industry and consumers both
here and in Asia Pacific must realize that
there will soon be significant reductions
in ozone depleting chemicals and that we
should be prepared for the changes that
are to come," said Zhang Lijun, Vice
Minister, State Environmental Protection
Administration (SEPA).
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.
Ms. Satwant Kaur, Regional Information
Officer
United Nations Environment Programme Regional
Office for Asia and the Pacific,
Ms. Xiaofang Zhou, Director, Division for
the Montreal Protocol
Foreign Economic Cooperation Office (FECO),
State Environmental Protection Administration
(SEPA), Beijing, China, P.R.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP)
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.
Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete
the Ozone Layer
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 believed to be
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
revisions, in 11000 (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
will celebrate 29th Anniversary of the signing
of this ground breaking international treaty
on 16th September 2007in Montreal .
About the Compliance Assistance Programme
(CAP) for Asia and the Pacific
In 2002, UNEP as an Implementing Agency
of the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal
Protocol made a conscious departure from
the past in assisting developing countries
to enable them to implement the Montreal
Protocol. This departure emerges from the
new context in which developing countries
now operate under the compliance regime
of the Protocol. The new context of compliance
regime requires countries to: achieve and
sustain compliance, promote a greater sense
of country ownership and implement the agreed
Executive Committee framework for strategic
planning.
In line with this re-orientation, UNEP
proposed through the Compliance Assistance
Programme (CAP) to begin moving from project
management approach to a direct implementation
initiative through its specialized staff.
Consistent with the above approach the Regional
Office for Asia and Pacific (ROAP) CAP team
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
The World Bank's Montreal Protocol Program
The World Bank as an implementing agency
for the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal
Protocol has primarily developed technological
conversion projects, through which technologies
based on ozone depleting gases are phased-out
and replaced by others based on ozone-friendly
substances. The main sectors targeted have
been refrigeration and mobile air conditioning,
foams, aerosols, solvents, and fire control.
www.worldbank.org