Climate-L.org » Vienna Convention / Montreal Protocol / Ozone

Ozone OEWG 30 Convenes

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:47:43 +0000

18 June 2010: The 30th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 30) of the parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer took place from 15-18 June 2010, in Geneva, Switzerland.

At OEWG 30, parties discussed issues related to: the financial mechanism; hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and their alternatives; polyols; and environmentally sound management of banks of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). Parties also considered issues concerning exemptions for ODS uses, including: essential- and critical-use exemptions for 2011 and 2012; transitions to chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-free metered dose inhalers; laboratory and analytical uses of ODS; and use of ODS as process agents. OEWG 30 also considered proposals by the US, Canada and Mexico (UNEP/OzL.Pro.WG.1/30/5) and by the Federated States of Micronesia (UNEP/OzL.Pro.WG.1/30/4) for amendments to the Montreal Protocol to control hydrofluorocarbons (HFC).

Introducing its trilateral proposal, the US stated that parties have been successful under the Montreal Protocol in solving the global environmental problem of ozone depletion, but risk exacerbating the problem of climate change through the transition to HFCs from CFCs and HCFCs. The Federated States of Micronesia highlighted the potential for an HFC phase-down to avoid carbon emissions, noting this would contribute to delaying the adverse impacts of climate change. In the ensuing discussion, a number of delegates stressed that HFCs are the mandate of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, and underscored that since HFCs are not ODS, they are outside the ambit of the Montreal Protocol. An open-ended contact group on HFCs was created, led by Agustín Sánchez Guevara (Mexico) and met twice during the meeting. [Earth Negotiations Bulletin coverage of OEWG 30] [Meeting Report] [Earth Negotiations Bulletin Archives of Ozone Negotiation Coverage]

Event: Montreal Protocol MOP 22

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:59:03 +0000

The 22nd session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol will convene in Uganda.

dates: 8-12 November 2010
location: Kampala (Kampala), Uganda
phone: +254-20-762-3850/1
fax: +254-20-762-4691
e-mail: ozoneinfo@unep.org
www: http://ozone.unep.org/Events/meetings2010.shtml

World Bank Approves Financing for Chillers Replacement

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:31:06 +0000

3 June 2010: The World Bank approved a bundle of financial instruments for a project called the “Chillers Energy Efficiency Project,” which will replace around 375 chillers in the Philippines with more climate-friendly technologies.
Chillers are the primary components in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. Old chillers use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as refrigerants, several of the chemical substances known to cause ozone depletion and global warming. Under the Chillers Energy Efficiency Project, a grant subsidy of 15% of the cost of new non-CFC-based energy efficient chillers will be provided with the alternative of opting for future carbon finance revenues to be generated by energy savings from the replacement of their chillers.
The project will be financed by a US$2.6 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund, a US$1 million grant from the Multilateral Fund (MLF) for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol, and a US$7.3 million Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) financing with KfW (German Reconstruction Bank) as the carbon buyer. [World Bank Press Release]

Event: GEF Council Meeting

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:06:25 +0000

The GEF Council Meeting will develop, adopt and evaluate GEF programmes. Council members representing 32 constituencies (16 from developing countries, 14 from developed countries, and two from countries with transitional economies) will be represented. An NGO Consultation will be held on the first day.

dates: 29 June – 1 July 2010
venue: GEF Headquarters
location: Washington (District of Columbia), United States of America
contact: GEF Secretariat
phone: 1-202-473-0508
fax: 1-202-522-3240/3245
e-mail: secretariat@thegef.org
www: http://thegef.org/interior_right.aspx?id=17146

MOP-21 and Implementation Committee Reports Released

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:26:00 +0000

The Ozone Secretariat has released advance copies of the report of the 21st Meeting of the Parties (MOP-21) and the Forty-third Meeting of the Implementation Committee under the Non-Compliance Procedure for the Montreal Protocol. The advance reports are available in English only. [MOP-21 meeting report] [43rd Implementation Committee report]

MOP-21 Agrees 30 Decisions, HFC Amendment Proposal Withdrawn

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:33:00 +0000

8 November 2009: The 21st Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP-21) took place in Port Ghalib, Egypt, from 4-8 November 2009.

MOP-21 adopted 30 decisions, including on: examining alternatives to hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs); guidance to the Executive Committee on institutional strengthening; essential uses; environmentally sound management of ozone depleting substance (ODS) banks; methyl bromide; programme and budget; and data and compliance issues. Delegates also considered a North American proposal to amend the Montreal Protocol to phase-down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), but after China, India and several Arab countries disagreed with discussing HFCs under the Montreal Protocol, the amendment proposal was withdrawn from the discussion. [IISD RS meeting coverage]

MOP-21 Addresses Proposal to Phase Down HFCs

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:22:00 +0000

5 November 2009: The 21st meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP-21) is convening in Port Ghalib, Egypt, from 4-8 November 2009.

The meeting is arranged into two segments: a three-day preparatory segment; followed by a two-day, high-level segment. MOP-21 is addressing several important substantive matters including the environmentally sound management of ozone depleting substance (ODS) banks and an amendment proposal to phase-down hydroflourocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol. [IISD RS meeting coverage]

Ozone Meeting Begins Discussion on HFC Phase-Down

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:20:20 +0000

20 July 2009: The 29th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG 29) of the parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer convened in Geneva, Switzerland, from 15-18 July 2009. Discussions at OEWG 29 were dominated by consideration of a proposal submitted jointly by the Federated States of Micronesia and Mauritius (UNEP/OzL.Pro.WG.1/29/8) to amend the Montreal Protocol to include destruction of ozone depleting substance (ODS) banks and phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Although HFCs do not deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, they have high-global warming potential (GWP) and therefore pose a significant threat to the climate system. In its attempts to limit ODS, particularly hydrochloroflourocarbons (HCFCs), the Montreal Protocol, through finance provided by the Multilateral Fund, is predicted to cause a dramatic increase in the use of HFCs, as they are a common HCFC alternative. The proposal proponents pointed to the successful history of the Montreal Protocol in phasing-out consumption and production of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and in regulating the industries that manufacture HFCs.
Many parties were reluctant to support the proposal to phase-down HFCs under the Montreal Protocol, because they are included in the basket of GHGs being considered under the climate negotiations, expected to conclude in Copenhagen this December. At the beginning of meeting, debate focused on the relative merits of housing HFCs under the Montreal Protocol or the UNFCCC. However, by the close of the OEWG 29, most parties agreed the range of possibilities for phasing-down HFCs would likely involve action under both fora.
If eventually agreed, the HFC amendment may represent the first emission reduction target for developing countries for a non-ozone depleting GHG. Eight additional small island developing States added weight to the amendment proposal by announcing they were co-sponsoring it during the close of OEWG-29.
The amendment proposal will be considered again by parties at the 21st session of the meeting of the parties to the Montreal Protocol, scheduled to convene in Port Ghalib, Egypt, from 4-8 November 2009. [IISD RS meeting coverage]

Ozone Secretariat Convenes Two Climate Change-Related Workshops

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:28:07 +0000

16 July 2009: The Ozone Secretariat convened a workshop on the management and destruction of ozone-depleting substance (ODS) banks and the implications for climate change on 13 July 2009, followed by a workshop for a dialogue on high global warming potential alternatives to ODS on 14 July 2009. Both meetings were held in Geneva, Switzerland, in advance of the 29th meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG-29) to the Montreal Protocol, which is taking place from 15-18 July 2009.

The workshops considered a proposal, submitted jointly by the Federated States of Micronesia and Mauritius (UNEP/OzL.Pro.WG.1/29/8), to amend the Montreal Protocol to include destruction of ODS banks and a phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Both workshops were attended by ozone and climate change negotiators, as well as UNFCCC and Ozone Secretariat staff, and provided an opportunity for open dialogue and information exchange.
At the workshop on ODS banks, discussions addressed: the size of ODS banks; the climate benefits of disposing of banks; efforts needed to access and destroy the banks; costs associated with the management and disposal of banks; and the viability and accessibility of options to address banks at the national and international levels.
At the dialogue on high global warming potential alternatives to ODS, participants agreed that the Montreal Protocol should continue to consider contributing to climate change mitigation, and options for phasing down HFCs should be kept open. Delegates also highlighted that strategies under the Montreal Protocol must be compatible with the climate regime and the outcome of the Copenhagen meeting.
Delegates at OEWG-29 are considering the Montreal Protocol amendment proposal in two contact groups on ODS banks and on addressing HFCs under the Montreal Protocol. [IISD RS sources] [IISD RS meeting coverage] [Mauritius and Federated States of Micronesia amendment proposal]

Federated States of Micronesia and Mauritius Propose Climate-Related Amendment to Montreal Protocol

Climate-L.org - IISDRS — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:58:24 +0000

3 May 2009: A joint proposal has been submitted by the Federated States of Micronesia and Mauritius to amend the Montreal Protocol. The amendment proposes to regulate and phase-down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with a high global warming potential and promote the destruction of banks of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

According to the submission, these proposals will strengthen the Montreal Protocol to provide fast-action climate change mitigation several times greater than the emission reductions sought during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. [The proposal]