Published : Dec 05,
2012 Last modified : Dec 05, 2012 12:13
PM
Europe has made significant progress in
phasing out chemicals which damage the ozone
layer, according to a report from the European
Environment Agency (EEA). The report considers
production and use of more than 200 chemicals
which damage the planet’s ozone layer, which
are controlled by the Montreal Protocol
and EU legislation.
The latest figures show
that Europe has effectively addressed the
pollution leading to the ozone hole. The
Montreal Protocol is one of the most successful
international environmental agreements to
date, this example of global action should
inspire cooperation on other global environmental
problems.
In the 1970s and 1980s,
scientists established that certain man-made
chemicals were depleting the ozone in the
earth’s stratosphere. This was subsequently
confirmed by the finding of abnormally low
ozone concentrations above Antarctica –
the so-called ‘ozone hole’.
Stratospheric ozone plays an essential role
in limiting the amount of ultraviolet light
reaching the surface of the planet, helping
prevent skin cancers and other problems
such as damage to crops and marine phytoplankton.
By signing the 1987 Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer,
part of the Vienna Convention for the protection
of the Ozone Layer, governments agreed to
reduce the production and consumption of
ozone depleting substances (ODS). These
two treaties are the only agreements in
the history of the United Nations to be
universally ratified.
Within the European Union, companies are
obliged to report their use of ODS, including
imports, exports, consumption and destruction.
In total, 189 companies reported activities
involving ODS in 2011.
Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director
said: “The latest figures show that Europe
has effectively addressed the pollution
leading to the ozone hole. The Montreal
Protocol is one of the most successful international
environmental agreements to date, this example
of global action should inspire cooperation
on other global environmental problems.”
Key findings
Consumption of ODS in the European Union
(EU) is nowadays extremely low compared
to past levels. The EU has met the international
targets for phasing out consumption in 2010,
10 years ahead of schedule.
Production of ODS in the EU has declined
steadily since 2006, with a significant
dip in 2009 due to the economic crisis.
After a partial increase in 2010, production
decreased again in 2011.
Imports of these chemicals
have declined since 2006, although between
2010 and 2011 there was an increase of 5
%, if measured in metric tonnes, or 8.3
% if weighted for their effect on the ozone
layer. Almost half came of imports from
China, while more than a third came from
the United States.
Exports have fallen
steadily since 2006 at an average rate of
27 % every year. The report finds that this
is largely due to declining production and
increasing use of the remaining production
for ‘feedstock’ use. In such instances,
the chemicals are used to produce non-controlled
substances and are not emitted into the
atmosphere.
Feedstock use of the
chemicals is increasing, the report notes,
now making up 95 % of the chemicals produced,
measured in metric tonnes. Feedstock use
is not limited by legislation.
Benefits for climate change
Many ODS are also potent greenhouse gases,
so phasing them out addresses both ozone
depletion and climate change. Scientific
studies have estimated that the Montreal
Protocol reduced GWP-weighted ODS emissions
globally by around 10-12 Gt CO2-eq per year
by 2010. This is 5-6 times more than the
reduction of greenhouse gases expected under
the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period,
which is estimated to be 1-2 Gt CO2-eq on
average per year between 2008 and 2012,
compared to base year emissions.
About ozone depleting substances
More than 200 chemicals are controlled by
the Montreal Protocol. These were formerly
mainly used as coolants, propellants in
spray cans, blowing agents in making foams,
solvents and fire extinguishers. The Montreal
Protocol covers over 200 individual ODS,
including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons
and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
Image above: Maximum ozone hole in 2011.
False-colour view of total ozone over the
Antarctic pole. The purple and blue colours
represent areas where there is least ozone,
and the yellows and reds are where there
is more ozone. Measured in 12 September
2011.
+ More
EEA land cover data
to be used in mobile phone maps
Published : Dec 13,
2012 Last modified : Dec 14, 2012 11:02
AM
Data on land use provided by the European
Environment Agency (EEA) is soon to be included
in electronic maps used for navigation in
mobile phones and other devices.
The EEA has concluded
a license agreement with the company Navteq
to use Corine Land Cover data in maps being
developed for Navteq’s mother company Nokia.
The Corine dataset will improve mapping
and navigation with its broad coverage and
high consistency. Initially the data will
be used to identify woodlands, but at a
later stage it may be used to also identify
other land cover categories such as agricultural
land.
The Corine land cover database was finalised
in the early 11000s. The European Commission
programme stands for ‘COoRdinate INformation
on the Environment’ (Corine). Responsibility
for hosting, maintenance and updating was
taken over by the EEA when the Agency was
set up in the mid-11000s. The dataset is
regularly updated, with the most recent
version published in 2006.
The Nokia agreement is just one example
of the many uses of environmental information.
The EEA actively encourages reuse of both
its datasets and its reports, following
the same policy as the Commission and other
EU institutions. Reuse is not restricted
to environmental purposes. Regardless of
whether it is used for commercial or non-commercial
purposes, the information is available free
of charge for the users.
