Recent International Developments in Saving the Ozone Layer

191 Countries Agree to Strengthen Protection of the Earth's Ozone Layer

At the 19th Meeting of the Parties in Montreal on September 17-21, 2007, the Parties agreed to more aggressively phase out ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). The final agreement resulted from discussion of six proposals submitted by governments from both developed and developing countries - Argentina and Brazil; Norway, Iceland and Switzerland; the United States; Mauritania; Mauritius; and the Federated States of Micronesia.

HCFCs originally emerged as replacement chemicals for use in air conditioning, some forms of refrigeration equipment and foams.

HCFC reductions for the U.S., reflecting the agreement at the 19th Meeting in Montreal

HCFC Phaseout Schedule

All developed (i.e., non-Article 5) countries that are Parties to the Montreal Protocol are subject to caps on their consumption and production of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

Consumption is calculated by the following formula: consumption = production plus imports minus exports. The cap is set at 2.8% of that country's 1989 chlorofluorocarbon consumption + 100% of that country's 1989 HCFC consumption. The cap on production is set at the average of a) 1989 HCFC production + 2.8% of 1989 CFC production and b) 1989 HCFC consumption + 2.8% of 1989 CFC consumption. (Quantities of chemicals measured under the cap are ODP-weighted, which means that each chemical's relative contribution to ozone depletion is taken into account.)

Under the Montreal Protocol, the U.S. and other developed nations are obligated to achieve a certain percentage of progress towards the total phaseout of HCFCs, by certain dates. These nations use the cap as a baseline to measure their progress towards achieving these percentage goals.

The following table shows the U.S. schedule for phasing out its use of HCFCs in accordance with the terms of the Protocol. The Agency intends to meet the limits set under the Protocol by accelerating the phaseout of HCFC-141b, HCFC-142b and HCFC-22. These are the most damaging of the HCFCs. By eliminating these chemicals by the specified dates, the Agency believes that it will meet the requirements set by the Parties to the Protocol. The Agency is also committed to the phaseout of all HCFCs. The third and fourth columns of the table show how the U.S. will meet the international obligations described in the first two columns. The HCFCs to be phased out according to the schedule in the table below include HCFC-22, HCFC-123, HCFC-124, HCFC-133a, HCFC-141b, HCFC-142b, HCFC-225ca and HCFC-225cb.

¹ Adjustments to the HCFC phaseout schedule agreed at the 19th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, September 2007. 

² The Parties agreed to address the possibilities or need for essential use exemptions, no later than 2015.

³ The Parties agreed to review in 2015 the need for the 0.5 per cent production or import for servicing during the period 2020-2030.

Environmental Benefits of the New, Stronger HCFC Phaseout Agreement

The agreement to adjust the phase-out schedule for HCFCs is expected to reduce emissions of HCFCs to the atmosphere by 47 percent, compared to the prior commitments under the treaty over the 30-year period of 2010 to 2040. For the developing countries, the agreement means there will be about a 58 percent reduction in HCFCs emission over the 30 year period.

The HCFC reductions in developing countries, reflecting the agreement at the 19th Meeting in Montreal

The climate benefits of the stronger HCFC agreement will depend on technology choices of the transition from HCFCs during the 30 year time frame of the HCFC phase out. The estimated climate benefit of the new, stronger HCFC phase out may be as much as 9,000 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO 2-eq), or the equivalent of removing the climate emissions from 70 million U.S. passenger cars each year, for the next 30 years. This means the new, stronger HCFC agreement is equivalent to eliminating the climate emissions from 50 percent of all U.S. passenger cars each year, for the next 30 years.

Another way of explaining the climate benefit of the new, stronger HCFC phaseout agreement is to say it is equivalent to eliminating the climate emissions from the electricity needed by 40 million U.S. households each year, for the next 30 years, which would be eliminating the climate emissions from the electricity needed by 40 percent of U.S. households each year, for the next 30 years.

Analysis – Overall HCFC Agreement

† Calculations from the USEPA analysis of HCFC Consumption and Emissions arising from U.S. adjustment proposal for HCFC phaseout and the transition to substitute technologies, report developed by ICF International (ICF 2007)

ª Calculations taken from the US Climate Technology Cooperation Gateway website that is sponsored by USEPA and USAID. (soon to be updated)

* Number of passenger cars in the States is based on 127.7 million registered vehicles in 2001 with average gas mileage of 23.9 mpg and the calculated CO2 emitted per gallon of gasoline burned of 8.781 kg (soon to be updated with new "gateway")

** Number of households and energy use is based on 105.2 million households in 2000 from USDOE's publication "2002 Buildings Energy Databook" with a national average CO2 output of 1,392 pounds per megawatt-hour (soon to be updated with "gateway")

Historical Background
This agreement coincides with the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, widely considered one of the most successful international environmental treaties to date. September 16, 2007, marked the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol, the agreement to restore the ozone layer and protect future generations from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Twenty years ago, 24 nations signed the ambitious treaty to reduce production of substances responsible for ozone layer depletion, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in aerosol sprays and in refrigeration products. Today, 191 countries – virtually every country in the world - have signed the Montreal Protocol, and each country has measurable goals and actions for achieving success.

The depletion of the ozone layer contributes to an increased amount of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Overexposure to UV radiation causes a wide range of health problems for humans, especially skin cancer, as well as other ecological and economic impacts. A future with a repaired ozone layer is a future where skin cancer will be less prevalent.

HCFC phaseout in the U.S.

Class II controlled substances have an ozone depletion potential (ODP) less than 0.2 and are subject to a later phaseout schedule than Class I substances.  Class II substances are all hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which were developed as transitional substitutes for Class I substances and which have many of the same uses as CFCs. 

Of the 34 HCFCs, the most widely used have been HCFC-22 (a commercial refrigerant), HCFC-141b (a solvent and foam-blowing agent), and HCFC-142b (a foam-blowing agent and component in refrigerant blends).

Section 605 of the Clean Air Act sets the phaseout targets for Class II substances. 

At the 19th Meeting of the Parties in Montreal on September 17-21, 2007, the Parties agreed to a more aggressive phasedown of HCFCs in both developing and developed countries. The overall schedule for the HCFC phaseout in the U.S. remains the same, and includes the following milestones:

• On January 1, 2003, EPA banned the production and import of virgin HCFC-141b, the first Class II substance to be phased out.
• On January 1, 2010, production and import of virgin HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b will be banned.  Exceptions will be available for servicing of equipment made before this date (the so-called “servicing tail”), for export, and for processes resulting in transformation or destruction of the substances.
• On January 1, 2015, production and import of other virgin Class II substances will be banned.  Exceptions will be available for use as a refrigerant in equipment manufactured before January 1, 2020, as well as for export and for processes resulting in transformation or destruction.
• On January 1, 2020, all production and import of virgin HCFC-22 and HCFC-142 will be banned, with exceptions for export and for processes resulting in transformation or destruction.
• On January 1, 2030, all production and import of virgin HCFCs will be banned, with exceptions for export and processes resulting in transformation or destruction.
• On January 1, 2040, all production and import of virgin HCFCs will be banned, except for processes resulting in transformation or destruction.

Accomplishments from the 19th Meeting of the Parties in Montreal, Canada
President George W. Bush stated the following about the HCFC phaseout agreement in his remarks at the U.S. Department of State on September 28, 2007:

“We have confidence in the success of our efforts. Twenty years ago, nations finalized an agreement called the Montreal Protocol to phase out substances that were depleting the ozone layer. Since then, we have made great strides to repair the damage. Just last week, developed and developing nations reached consensus on speeding up the recovery of the ozone layer by accelerating the phase-out of these harmful substances. This accelerated phase-out will bring larger benefits because they'll dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson delivered the high-level intervention on behalf of the United States at the 19th Meeting of the Parties in Montreal, Canada, in which he strongly encouraged the Parties to more aggressively phase out HCFCs.

Stephen L. Johnson EPA Administrator

09/17/2007
Administrator Johnson, 19th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Montreal, Canada

Thank you, Mr. President.

On behalf of the United States of America, I wish to express our sincerest appreciation to the government and people of Canada for hosting the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on this occasion of the 19th Meeting of the Parties.

I appreciate Canada's ongoing commitment to our common effort to protect the Earth’s ozone layer.

Twenty years ago, the community of nations came together to adopt a strategy for the global challenge of ozone depletion. Today, the United States of America joins our international partners in celebrating the anniversary of the Montreal Protocol – a shining example of how human ingenuity, leadership and determination can create a healthier, better world.

As Administrator of the U.S. EPA, it is a personal privilege to be here to join in this commemoration. Not only am I proud to follow in the footsteps of the visionary leaders responsible for our successes – including several of my predecessors – I am proud to represent the hundreds of dedicated members of the EPA team, who were influential in fostering this international agreement.

However, this international effort is far from over.

While yesterday’s presentations highlighted the Montreal Protocol’s progress in addressing the global threat, they also underscored how far we still need to go to see a complete recovery of our Earth’s stratospheric ozone layer.

To this end, the U.S. has submitted a package of proposed adjustments to the Montreal Protocol to be considered at this Meeting of the Parties, which calls on the global community to act more quickly in completing the HCFC phase-out. In doing so, we are fulfilling our commitment from last June’s G8 Summit Declaration to accelerate the phase out of HCFCs in a way that supports energy efficiency and climate change objectives.

The U.S. believes the Parties have an important opportunity this week to agree on adjustments that will advance ozone recovery several years and also produce climate change benefits that are potentially greater than the reductions experienced under Kyoto (depending on the transition and development of new technologies and substitutes).

In moving faster to heal the ozone layer, we can write the next chapter in the Montreal Protocol’s success story by helping prevent skin cancer caused by excess UV radiation exposure. As supporters of this effort, the U.S. encourages all delegates to strive to reach an agreement at this meeting that will accelerate HCFC control measures, demonstrating our continued commitment to finding cost-effective ways to promote a more rapid recovery for the ozone layer.

In addition, we challenge all delegations to consider ways of destroying the banks of ozone-depleting substances currently installed in equipment. These large sources of CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances represent a ripe opportunity to both further protect the ozone layer and to reduce emissions that contribute to global climate change.

And finally, as the work changes, we hope delegations continue to pursue pragmatic approaches to help the institutions of the Montreal Protocol evolve.

As always, at the heart of solving any global environmental challenge is a commitment to sound science. And of course, this was the case with addressing the challenge of ozone depletion. As a career scientist at the U.S. EPA, I sometimes wonder where we would be without the discoveries by Molina and Rowland, whose efforts – and the efforts of many other scientists – have helped pave the way in saving the lives of millions of people throughout our world.

I appreciate the investments of institutions such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, whose influential contributions provided the science necessary for the world’s policymakers to take action. Altogether, we estimate the U.S. contribution to scientific monitoring, modeling and analysis activities has been in excess of $50 million since 1980. In addition to the financial investments, we owe a debt of gratitude to the committed scientists and professionals at NASA and NOAA – and other scientific institutions around the world – who have helped us meet this global challenge.

Once again, it is an honor to represent the United States during this historic anniversary. Working together with the leaders of the international community, we are continuing to create a better tomorrow by protecting the Earth's atmosphere today.

Thank you.

Credit -United States EPA

Data compiled from The British Antarctic Study, NASA, Environment Canada, UNEP, EPA and other sources as stated and credited

Updated Daily-Researched By Charles Welch-

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