Vietnamese updates: Vietnam initially succeeded in protecting the ozone layer (22 Aug 2013)

Vietnam initially succeeded in protecting the ozone layer 
Thứ năm, ngày 22 tháng 08 năm 2013 cập nhật lúc 00:07


September 16^th every year is International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. In this day, the world reiterated the importance of ozone layer, the influence of people on the degradation of the ozone layer due to the emission of hazardous substances that cause ‘damage’ to fragile ozone layer in the upper atmosphere. Looking back the past, Vietnam has achieved remarkable success in the gradual restriction of the use of ozone depleting substances.

Protecting the ozone layer is the responsibility of mankind. Therefore, the leaders of the countries all over the world had a meeting in Montreal (Canada), 195/196 countries have agreed to participate in the Montreal Protocol 1997 to eliminate the use of chemicals to deplete the ozone layer. The current goal of Vietnam and countries participating in the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer is to gradually eliminate the entire of ozone depleting substances such as CFC, HCFC, HFC (chemicals used in Cooling mechanism of conditioning equipment, air conditioning, etc.). These substances have the potential to cause global warming thousand times higher than CO2.

Although in January 1994, Vietnam participated in Montreal Protocol, until January 2010, there is no longer any business in Vietnam using CFC (the catalyst has high affection in breaking ozone molecules) in cosmetics production. Cooling and air conditioning industry also achieve positive results with an average reduction of 3.6 tons of CFC 11 per year in the textile industry, 5.8 tons of CFC-12 in air conditioning used in cars and 40 tons of CFCs in commercial refrigeration equipment and appliances, etc. Vietnam has completely eliminated the annual consumption of ozone depleting substances, with about 500 tons of CFCs and 3.8 tons of halons. With these achievements, Vietnam’s efforts and contribution in the implementation of Montreal Protocol have been recognized by ‘Environment Program’ of United Nations.

According to the Montreal Protocol, in 2013, Vietnam has only consumed HCFC HCFC at the basic line level (221.2 tons). From October 2015 to the end of 2019, it has to decrease by 10% compared to the basic line level , 35% from 2020 and completely eliminate in 2030. The industry of equipment repair and maintenance is allowed to use HCFC until 2040. To ensure the compliance with the limits to eliminate HCFCs according to the Montreal Protocol, with the support of the World Bank, Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) has completed the construction of the project ‘National Management Plan for eliminating HCFC substances of Vietnam’. The project’s phase 1 was approved by the Executive Committee of Multilateral Fund with the grant of $ 10 million USD, being implemented since 2012-2016. Phase 2 of the project will be constructed and called for financing by the Department of Hydrometeorology and Climate Change in collaboration with the World Bank and in 2015. It is estimated that Vietnam needs 20-25 million more to completely eliminate HCFC.

The responsibility of Vietnam in the next years is t9bcompletely eliminate HCFC consumption. This process can be extended to 2030. To achieve this objective, from now on, Vietnamese Government is calling for people to join hands to protect the ozone layer by changing consuming behavior. Do not use conditioners containing HCFC-22 coolant with low price. Instead, use HCFC-410a. When purchasing household products, especially the kind using in a spray bottle, consumers should find the kinds with the label of "no CFC ". When painting house, paint by brush or roller, do not use a spray. Reduce the use of plastic foam packaging. If available, take advantage of it for many times. Businesses should not install new equipment using HCFC, they should use advanced technology from the beginning to avoid technology transfer, which requires international roadmap that has been approved.

However, according to Mr. Nguyen Khac Hieu, Deputy Director of Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change: If receiving the full support of finance and technology from international organizations, Vietnam will have completed eliminating HCFC in 2025.

Mai Chi

Source: 

http://www.monre.gov.vn/v35/default.aspx?tabid=675&CateID=58&ID=129006&Code=UVHD129006

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New Books: Health and Climate Change Modelling the impacts of global warming and ozone depletion By Pim Martens (1 Jun 2013)

Health and Climate Change

Modelling the impacts of global warming and ozone depletion

By Pim Martens

Published 1st June 2013 by Routledge – 204 pages

Descriptions:

'Understanding how complex ecological and climatic change can influence human health is the new challenge before us. The book confronts these multidimensional risk assessments head-on and will catalyse the important interdisciplinary and integrated approach that is the new paradigm now required for environmental and public health research.' Dr JONATHAN PATZ Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health 'This book provides a sturdy foundation for thinking about how best to tackle a varied spectrum of population health hazards posed by different aspects and combinations of global change processes? it alsogoes that extra mile by estimating the attributable population burdens of disease or mortality that are likely to result from these aspects of global change. It is heartening to see the results of this mathematical modeling being presented in policy-relevant terms.' From the Foreword by TONY McMICHAEL Health and Climate Change is the first major study of the potentially devastating health impacts of the global atmospheric changes which are under way. Using the best available data, the author presents models of the most plausible future courses of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and schistosomiasis; skin cancer caused by nozone depletion; and cardiovascular and respiratory disorders caused by higher temperatures. Current epidemiological research methods are not well adapted to analysing complex systems influenced by human intervention, or more simple processes calculated to take place within the distant future. Health and Climate Change proposes a new paradigm of integrated eco-epidemiological models for these areas of study. It will be essential reading for those concerned with public health and epidemiology, environmental studies, climate change and development studies. Originally published in 1998

Contents:

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables List of Boxes Foreword by Tony McMichael Preface 

1. Introduction The Issue Scope and Objectives Outline
2. An Eco-Epidemiological Modelling Approach Introduction Limitations of Conventional Epidemiology Eco-Epidemiological Modelling Discussion
3. Climate Change and Vector-Borne Diseases Introduction The Vectors and Their Diseases Epidemic Potential Climate Effects Malaria Prevalence Climate Scenarios Changes in Potential Risk Areas Changes in Malaria Prevalence Local Estimates: Model Validation Model Limitations and Uncertainties Discussion and Conclusions
4. Modelling Malaria as a Complex Adaptive System Introduction The Genetic Algorithm Modelling Adaptation by Genetic Algorithms Modelling Experiments Discussion and Conclusions
5. Climate Change, Thermal Stress and Morality Changes Introduction Health Impact Assessment Thermal Stress in a Number of Cities Cardiovascular Mortality and Sensitivity to Adaptation Discussion and Conclusions
6. The Impact of Ozone Depletion on Skin Cancer Incidence Introduction Modelling the Cause-Effect Chain Ozone Depletion and Skin Cancer Risk in the Netherlands and Australia Uncertainties Discussion and Conclusions
7. Discussion and Conclusions Introduction Major Findings Future Research lines Epilogue References Index

For more information: http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415848800/

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Chinese Updates: UN to Support China to Phase out Ozone-Depleting Substances, with Major Climate Benefits (23 Apr 2013)

 

UN to Support China to Phase out Ozone-Depleting Substances, with Major Climate Benefits

23 April 2013 - The United Nations body that supports developing countries to phase out substances that damage the ozone layer will provide China with up to US$380 million in funding to eliminate industrial production of the ozone-depleting substances HCFCs (or hydrochlorofluorocarbons) by the year 2030, it was announced today.

China - the world's largest producer and consumer of HCFCs - is set to retire its current HCFC production capacity, as well as surplus production capacity that is currently not utilized, as part of the agreement with the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol.

The Chinese government says the total amount of HCFCs to be eliminated by 2030 will prevent the emission of over 4.3 million metric tonnes of HCFCs (equal to 300,000 tonnes in terms of its ozone depletion potential), and 8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.

HCFCs are widely used in the refrigeration, foam, solvent, aerosol and fire fighting sectors as a replacement for ozone-depleting CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), which were successfully phased out worldwide under the Montreal Protocol in 2010.

Although having considerably lower ozone depleting potential than CFCs, many HCFCs have high global warming potentials, of up to 2000 times that of carbon dioxide.

HCFCs are among the last remaining substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol; one of the most widely ratified treaties in United Nations history.

The Protocol has enabled reductions of over 98 per cent of all global production and consumption of controlled ozone-depleting substances, thus supporting the restoration of the ozone layer which protects life on Earth from harmful wavelengths of ultraviolet light.

China accounts for 92 per cent of the total HCFC production in developing countries. The phase-out of HCFC production in China is thus fundamental to ensure the compliance of all developing countries with the Montreal Protocol.

Under the new arrangement, China will close and dismantle production of HCFCs for uses controlled under the Montreal Protocol. The country has agreed to ensure that any HCFC plants that will receive funding do not switch to producing HCFCs as industrial feedstock; a use not controlled by the Montreal Protocol.

Over the next four years, China will receive US $95 million to cover the first stage of its HCFC production phase-out management plan. This is designed to assist the country to meet the freeze in HCFC production by 2013 and the reduction by 10 per cent by 2015, as required by the Montreal Protocol's HCFC phase-out schedule.

China's progress towards phasing out HCFC production will be verified by the Multilateral Fund before further funding is awarded. Any interest earned by China on the amounts received will be offset against future funding.

The project with China is potentially the largest approved so far under the Multilateral Fund.

Since 1991, the Multilateral Fund has approved activities including industrial conversion, technical assistance, training and capacity building worth approximately US $3 billion that will result in the phase out of more than 460,000 Ozone Depletion Potential tonnes of ozone-depleting substances in developing countries.

The United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) is one of four implementing agencies of the Multilateral Fund, along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the World Bank.

Notes to Editors

About the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol

The Montreal Protocol sets specific time bound targets to reduce and eventually phase-out the consumption and production of chemicals that damage the ozone layer (ozone depleting substances or ODS) in both developed and developing countries.

The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol was established to provide financial and technical cooperation, including the transfer of technologies to Parties operating under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol, Article 5 countries, to enable their compliance with the Montreal Protocol's targets. Article 5 countries are developing country Parties whose annual per capita consumption and production of CFCs and halons is less than 0.3 kg per capita on the date of entry into force of the Montreal Protocol or any time thereafter until 1 January 1999. There are currently 148 countries categorized as operating under Article 5 paragraph 1 of the Montreal Protocol (September 2012).

The Multilateral Fund is managed by an Executive Committee which is responsible for overseeing the operation of the Fund. The Committee comprises seven members from developed and seven members from developing countries. In 2013 the Committee membership includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, Japan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America (developed countries) and India, Kuwait, Mali, Nicaragua, Serbia Uganda and Uruguay (developing country members) . Ms. Fiona Walters (United Kingdom) serves as Chair and Mr. VladanZdravkovic (Serbia) serves as Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee for one year beginning 1 January 2013. The Committee is assisted by the Fund Secretariat which is based in Montreal, Canada. Activities are implemented by four international agencies (UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, World Bank) and a number of bilateral government agencies.

In September 2007 the Parties to the Montreal Protocol decided to accelerate the freeze and phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are ozone-depleting substances (ODS) with a significant global-warming potential. The Montreal Protocol requires Article 5 country Parties to gradually phase-out HCFCs starting from 2013 with a freeze in consumption and production, a 10 per cent reduction by 2015, 35 per cent reduction by 2020, a 67.5 per cent reduction by 2025 resulting in the complete phase-out of HCFC consumption and production by 2030 while allowing an amount of 2.5 per cent for the servicing of existing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment during the period 2030 to 2040. The Multilateral Fund intends to finance HCFC phase out in the countries eligible for its financial and technical assistance. As at the 69th meeting of the Executive Committee that took place from 15 to 19 April 2013 in Montreal (Canada), 138 Article 5 countries have national plans to phase-out HCFCs in place.

Further Resources

Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol  UNEP Ozone Secretariat  UNEP OzonAction

For more information, please contact:

Julia Anne Dearing, Information Management Officer, Secretariat of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, Phone: +1514 282-7862, Mobile: +1 514 591 9353, E-mail: secretariat@unmfs.org

For more information: 

http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=2713&ArticleID=9480&l=en&t=long

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