Green Car Congress: Governments Agree to Accelerated Freeze and Phase-out of HCFCs; Benefits to Ozone and Combatting Climate Change

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Governments Agree to Accelerated Freeze and Phase-out of HCFCs; Benefits to Ozone and Combatting Climate Change

23 September 2007

Global warming potential for select CFCs and HCFCs (20-year and 100-year). Click to enlarge.

Delegates from 190 countries plus the European Commission have agreed to accelerate the freeze and phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), chemicals that were used to replace the more ozone-damaging chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The decision, made at the 19th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, follows mounting evidence that HCFCs contribute to global warming.

The agreement freezes production of HCFCs in 2013 at the average production levels in 2009-2010 and brings forward the final phase-out date by ten years. Developed countries will reduce production and consumption by 75% by 2010 and by 90% by 2015—final phase out is in 2020. Developing countries will reduce production and consumption by 10% by 2015, by 35% by 2020 and by 67.5% by 2025—final phase-out is in 2030.

It was also agreed that a small percentage of the original base line amounting to 2.5% will be allowed in developing countries during the period 2030-2040 for “servicing” purposes. Essentially this means that some equipment, coming towards the end of its life such as office block air conditioning units, could continue to run on HCFCs for a few more years if needed.

HCFCs emerged as replacement chemicals in the 1990s for use in air conditioning, some forms of refrigeration equipment, and foams following an earlier decision to phase-out the older and more ozone-damaging CFCs. The accelerated freeze and phase-out may also assist in restoring the stratospheric ozone layer.

HCFCs, which also damage the ozone layer but less than CFCs, were always planned as interim substitutes and were due to be phased out in 2030 by developed countries and in 2040 by developing ones.

However, evidence has emerged recently on the growth in HCFCs and the potentially significant benefits arising in terms of combating climate change and ozone loss if an accelerated freeze and accelerated phase-out could be achieved.

Experts estimate that without this week’s agreement, production and consumption of HCFCs may have doubled by 2015 adding to the dual challenges of ozone depletion and climate change.

The new agreement also takes into account the need for “stable and sufficient” funds and the fact that there may be “incremental costs” for developing countries under the accelerated HCFC freeze and phase out.

Governments agreed here to commission a short study by experts to fully assess the likely costs of the acceleration. They will report back early in 2008 and inform parties on the suggested sums required for the new replenishment.

Historic is an often over-used word, but not in the case of this agreement made in Montreal. Governments had a golden opportunity to deal with the twin challenges of climate change and protecting the ozone layer—and governments took it. The precise and final savings in terms of greenhouse gas emissions could amount to several billions of tonnes illustrating the complementarities of international environmental agreements.

—Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director

Delegates at the meeting—the 19th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol— also reduced the critical use exemptions for methyl bromide, a pesticide and ozone-depleting substance. Methyl bromide was meant to be fully phased-out by developed countries in 2005, but critical use exemptions'have been granted because some farmers producing products such as strawberries and cucumbers to tomatoes and eggplants argue that alternatives are either not ready or cost effective for all circumstances.

In 2005, more than 16,000 tonnes of methyl bromide were approved under the Montreal Protocol and in 2007 over 9,100 tonnes were permitted. At this latest meeting, the delegates approved just over 4,600 tonnes, continuing the downward trend in critical use exemptions for developed countries.

Resources:

United Nations Environment Programme Ozone Secretariat
Website for the 19^th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
Fischer, S. K., P. J. Hughes, P. D. Fairchild, C. L. Kusik, J. T. Dieckmann, E. M. McMahon, and N. Hobday. 1991. “Energy and global warming impacts of CFC alternative technologies, executive summary”
EPA listing of Class II Ozone-Depleting Substances (HCFCs), with Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) and Global Warming Potential (GWP)

September 23, 2007 in Climate Change | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)