Amending the Montreal Protocol

Author: Aditi Sawant

It often becomes difficult to reach a consensus on climate change on an international platform where 198 countries are present and each has its own interest in mind.

But a breakthrough was achieved in Bangkok where the 35th Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol was held last week. The Montreal Protocol, designed to reduce the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances and protect the fragile ozone layer, showed how international action can be effective in mitigating climate change globally.

Author: Aditi Sawant

The second day of the 35th Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol kicked off with countries voicing their difficulties in phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

Some of the participants said that they were experiencing difficulties with the current phase out obligation of HCFCs, and hence it would be difficult for them to have a combined HCFC and hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) phase out. The reasons cited by the countries were lack of adequate technology and financial crunch.

Author: Aditi Sawant

The 35th Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol kicked off in Bangkok on Wednesday on the occasion of Earth Day. The session witnessed the contest of the OEWG agenda by Saudi Arabian delegates, but it was later taken up for discussion and finally adopted by the member countries. This year's agenda was far more interesting than those of previous years due to the fact that two, or possibly three, amendment proposals will be tabled by the end of this week or by the beginning of next week.

Author: Aditi Sawant

The consequence of too much dependence on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) seems pretty grim. More so, if we accept the prediction that HFCs, also known as super green-house gases, are going to contribute to as much as eight gigatonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) by 2050.

Participants at the Bangkok workshop acknowledged this and emphasised on the importance of adopting a complete climate solution for a sustainable future.

Author: Aditi Sawant

The week-long deliberations for the workshop on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) management are aimed at building trust in parties to make the technological switch to alternatives with low global-warming potential (GWP) alternatives.

In the workshop on HFC Management and the additional Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol that began on Monday, the parties have begun to express their concerns on transition in these sectors. The meeting is also expected to offer expert panel discussions on the transition. 

Author: Aditi Sawant

At the 26th Meeting of Parties (MOP) to the Montreal Protocol held in Paris last year, it was decided that a two-day workshop on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) will be organised prior to an additional Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) of MOP this year.

The decision was taken keeping in mind the need to continue discussions on HFC management with special focus on high-ambient temperature, safety requirements, energy efficiency and the need to have extra information on existing and emerging issues surrounding the HFC debate.

Infographic

Refrigeration and air-conditioning industry has switched to ozone- friendly hydrofluorocarbons. But these are super global warming gases and need to be replaced

Factsheet

In 1987, the Montreal Protocol phased out the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), an ozone-depleting substance (ODS) used as coolants in refrigeration and air conditioning. Unfortunately, the chemicals increasingly being deployed in their place, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are themselves exceptionally potent greenhouse gases. They are often called super greenhouse gases because their global warming potential (GWP) is more than carbon dioxide by a factor of 1000.