8th Conference of the
Parties to the Vienna Convention and 20th
Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
Doha/Nairobi, 21 November
2008 - Treaties combating ozone layer damage
and climate change can learn from each other
in order to maximize economic and environmental
benefits.
The conclusion reflects
growing understanding that the phase-out
of chemicals that damage the ozone layer
- the Earth’s protective shield - also has
implications for the fight against global
warming.
The governments, meeting
in Doha the capital city of Qatar , have
requested the Executive Secretary of the
Montreal Protocol ozone agreement to coordinate
amongst others with the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to explore closer,
cooperative ties.
They are requesting
that the two treaties to hold meetings and
explore several areas of cooperation including
on how best to reduce releases of substances
known as hydroflurocarbons (HFCs).
HFCs, along with pollutants
such as C02 and methane, are one of the
six gases controlled under the climate convention’s
Kyoto Protocol.
In addition, governments
are suggesting that mutual benefits can
also come from an accelerated freeze and
phase-out of hydrochluroflurocarbons (HCFCs).
HCFCs are chemicals
that were introduced to replace older, more
ozone-damaging gases in products such as
refrigerators and air conditioning units.
But these replacement
chemicals are now also scheduled for replacement
and governments are keen to ensure that
the new chemicals developed not only are
ozone-friendly, but climate-friendly too.
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary
and Executive Director of the UN Environment
Programme which hosts the Ozone Secretariat,
said: ”In a world of scarce financial resources,
maximizing the impacts of the various multi-lateral
environmental agreements is paramount. Governments
have made it clear that there can be multiple
benefits if the experiences of the Montreal
Protocol and the UN climate change convention
can be better shared to reinforce mutual
aims. UNEP looks forward to exploring how
best these recommendations can be taken
forward”.
Maximizing benefits
among environmental treaties was among the
outcomes of the 8th Conference of the Parties
to the Vienna Convention and the 20th Meeting
of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
that concluded late last week in Doha .
Linked to the Montreal
Protocol is a multilateral fund that assists
developing countries to phase-out ozone
damaging chemicals.
Governments meeting
in Doha agreed to replenish the fund by
over $490 million for the period 2009 to
2001.
How best to destroy
ozone and climate-damaging chemicals, stored
in old equipment such as air conditioning
units and foams, was also part of the talks.
Countries also urged
the ozone treaty to work with funding organizations
such as the Global Environment Facility
to assess the most cost effective and rapid
route to ridding the world of these stockpiled
or ‘banked’ susbatnces.
During the meeting various
important announcements were made (see unep.org
media centre) including the plan ro establish
an ozone and climate monitoring station
in Qatar - the first in West Asia and a
move by the military from Australia, the
Netherlands and the United States to assist
developing countries with the destruction
of banked ozone depleting substances.
Notes to Editors
Documents related to the meeting can be
found at ozone.unep.org
Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson/Head of
Media.
