PHILIPPINES HOSTS INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON OZONE AND CLIMATE-FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGIES
A high-level discussion on the promotion and development of ozone and climate-friendly technologies and energy efficient alternatives to hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector and foam industries is slated tomorrow (November 7) at the 4th Ozone2Climate Technology Roadshow and Industry Roundtable at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay, Manila.
Industry representatives and participants including government stakeholders, non-government offices, associations and the academe are expected to attend the event
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje is expected to deliver the keynote address during the opening ceremony on Thursday.
The 4th Ozone2Climate Technology Roadshow which runs from November 6 to 9, 2013, is organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), DENR– Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Philippine Society of Ventilating, Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers, Inc. (PSVARE).
“Under the Montreal Protocol, developing countries such as the Philippines must reduce HCFC consumption by 10% by January 1, 2015 and gradually reduce imports until total phase-out by January 1, 2040. As our industry moves away from HCFCs, our aim is to phase-in alternatives that are environmentally-friendly and sustainable and at the same time, affordable and safe to use,” said Secretary Paje.
HCFCs are man-made chemicals which are being phased-out under the Montreal Protocol Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. It is used as cooling agent for commercial/industrial and domestic RAC, as blowing agent for foam, as fire extinguishing agent and solvent. HCFCs are ozone-depleting substances that also have high global warming potential (GWP).
“Even though there are many available alternatives to HCFCs in the market, most are only short- to medium-term solutions given a growing international pressure to move away from refrigerants with high GWP, such as HFCs for example,” UNEP OzonAction Senior Regional Coordinator Atul Bagai.
“We are very honored to collaborate with DENR and PSVARE in engaging industry decision makers in Asia to discuss the availability, affordability and need for environmentally-friendly alternatives as developing countries transition from HCFCs,” he added.
According to a 2011 UNEP report, global consumption of HCFCs has doubled in the last ten years, and is growing at 10 per cent a year. By 2050, it is projected that HCFCs could account for up to 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to the current emissions from the global transport sector.
HFCs are included in the list of short lived climate pollutants being addressed under the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC), of which UNEP is one of the founding partners.
Early this year, the Philippine government has frozen the import of HCFCs at the 2010 base level of 162 ozone-depleting potential tons. The level would then be reduced by 10 percent in 2015; 35 percent in 2020; 67 percent in 2025; 97.5 percent in 2030; and altogether banned in 2040.
Currently, the Philippines, like most developing countries, has started implementation of the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) to achieve these phase-out targets. HPMPs are funded by the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol.
for more details: http://www.denr.gov.ph/
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