EFFORTS to phase out ozone-depleting substances are bearing fruit if reports delivered at the 27th meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Dubai to discuss substances that deplete the ozone layer are anything to go by.
The five-day international conference was attended by over 50 government ministers of environment and other portfolios from 197 countries.
The ozone layer protects life on earth, guarding against skin cancer, eye cataracts, suppression of the immune system and drought.
Once ozone depleting substances are released into the atmosphere, they are broken down by intense Ultra Violet Radiation and initiate a series of chemical reactions that destroy ozone molecules.
Effects of ozone-depleting substances have been felt in the Antarctica where an ozone hole was discovered.
During the conference in Dubai, delegates discussed proposals from 40 countries regarding the protocol’s provisions on the production and consumption of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
HFCs or ‘super greenhouse gases’, are gases used for refrigeration and air conditioning.
Delegates in Dubai also sought a joint vision for an efficient HFC management system that meets the needs of the industrial sector in developing countries, especially in arid nations.
There is definitely need for economically feasible and environmentally friendly materials, devices and new technologies with efficient cooling and energy use.
The Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said the collective progress made by countries to phase out the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODSs) was commendable.
“The progress we have collectively made in phasing out the production and consumption of ODSs is very evident not only from the data submitted by Parties and compiled by the Ozone Secretariat, but most importantly from the latest findings by the Scientific Assessment Panel (SAP),” she said.
“The SAP report confirms that the ozone hole is recovering and this is as a result of the collaborative efforts by all governments of the world, industry, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and, especially the media, in addressing this global problem.
“As we tackle the phase-out of the remaining ODSs, namely the HFCs, I call upon the Montreal Protocol Parties to play their complementary role by adopting very low Global Warming Potential alternatives particularly in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.
“If this is not done urgently, the benefits of the recovery of the ozone layer we are witnessing today will soon be outweighed by the adverse impacts of climate change and other global environmental problems.
“The impacts of climate change are being felt and experienced in most parts of the globe more than ever before.”
This year is the cut-off date for the phase-out of methyl bromide and methyl chloroform in developing countries.
This leaves Africa with HFCs as the only remaining ODSs to be phased out.
Phasing out HFCs will no doubt have a significant contribution towards efforts to reduce the impact of climate change.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri lamented the lack of prioritisation in allocation of funds towards environmental issues.
As a developing nation, Zimbabwe is faced with other socio-economic responsibilities in addition to its environmental protection obligations.
This calls for strict allocation of scarce resources within the country.
These global environmental problems are closely intertwined so much that solving one without due consideration of the others would result in catastrophic results for the entire planet.
Since Africa does not produce the HFCs, there is need for assistance to phase out consumption and the developed countries must take the lead.
The discussions on HFCs management have gone on for too long while the world continues to experience one catastrophe after another as a result of continued build-up of these gases in the atmosphere.
The Multilateral Fund has so far played an important role in Zimbabwe’s successful ODS Phase-out programmes.
The refrigeration and air conditioning sector needs adequate financial and technological support to shift from HFC technologies.
The major challenge in the phasing-out process is non-availability of alternative technologies at a reasonable cost.
Currently refrigeration technicians cannot get Hydrocarbon refrigerants and servicing tools at affordable prices locally or within the region.