LEADING THE WAY IN IMPROVING OZONE PROTECTION
Adjustments To The Montreal Protocol Would Speed Elimination Of Ozone-Depleting
Substances
Released
by the U.S. Department of State
Burueau of Oceans, Environment
and Science
On
March 14, 2007, the United States Submitted A Proposal To Adjust The
Montreal Protocol To Accelerate The Phase-Out Of Ozone-Damaging Chemicals.
The U.S. proposal includes four elements that can be considered individually
or as a package:
-
Accelerating
the phase-out date of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) by 10 years;
-
Adding
interim reduction steps;
-
Setting
an earlier baseline;
-
Phasing
out the most damaging HCFCs to the ozone layer as the first priority.
These
proposals further U.S. efforts to address ozone layer protection,
cleaner air, and climate change by calling on the global community
to act more quickly in phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons.
-
Today,
More Than 190 Countries Participate In The Montreal Protocol To
Phase Out Ozone-Depleting Substances. With leadership from
the United States, the Montreal Protocol was ratified in 1987 by
27 nations. Twenty years later, we have the opportunity to assess
the progress that has been made under the Protocol as well as what
remains to be done.
-
Under
The Montreal Protocol's First Stage, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Were Phased Out In Developed Countries By 1996 And Replaced By Less
Harmful HCFCs. We are now entering the Montreal Protocol's
second stage, which aims to phase out HCFCs by 2030 for developed
countries and 2040 for developing countries.
-
The
Administration's Proposal Would Speed Up The Phase-Out Of HCFCs
Under The Montreal Protocol's Second Stage. While the Montreal
Protocol has already made tremendous strides to heal the ozone shield,
the United States believes more steps can be taken to reduce HCFC
consumption further and achieve a total phaseout sooner than the
scheduled dates. Based on analysis, experience, and more rapid technology
development, the U.S. technical team believes we can move faster
by as much as ten years.
The
U.S. Continues Its Strong Leadership In Ozone Layer Protection.
Since the Montreal
Protocol was signed in 1987, the U.S. has achieved a 90 percent
reduction in the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances
ending the production and import of over 1.7 billion pounds per year
of these chemicals. Faster healing of the ozone layer will help prevent
human health damages caused by excess UV radiation, including skin
cancer.
U.S. Actions Under The Current Montreal Protocol And Clean
Air Act Requirements Have Also Helped Protect Against Climate
Change. Ozone-depleting substances particularly chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) are damaging to the Earth's climate system. In 2005, the U.S.
reduced annual emissions of ozone-depleting substances by 1,500 million
CO2-equivalent metric tons per year. U.S. actions achieved a cumulative
emissions reduction of about 13,000 million CO2-equivalent metric
tons from 1987-2005 (not accounting for some offset from the influence
of ozone depletion on the climate).
Worldwide,
The Montreal Protocol Has Cut In Half The Amount Of Global Warming
Caused By Ozone-Destroying Chemicals That Would Have Occurred By 2010
Had These Chemicals Not Been Controlled.
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