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INDONESIA TO BAN CFCs AND METHYL BROMIDE FROM 2008

Environmental Panorama
International
November of 2007

 

Second Southeast Asian Country to Meet Obligations Ahead of Schedule
Bali/Bangkok, 9 November 2007 – 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
Ms. Satwant Kaur, Regional Information Officer
United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific,
Ms. Tri Widayati, Staff to the Deputy for Environmental Conservation
Ministry for Environment

NOTE TO EDITORS:
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)
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 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 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 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 (http://www.unep.org)
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