16 September 2021 12:51 am Views - 92
Acting as a shield from harmful radiation, the Ozone layer protects all life on Earth by preventing ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the planet and absorbing infrared radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface. With the industrial revolution, the release of potent greenhouse gasses damaged the Ozone layer and was a major contributor to the onset of climate change. The thinning of the Ozone layer has allowed harmful UV rays to ‘sunburn’ all living organisms on Earth, and hindered plants’ ability to photosynthesize, which in turn has affected food security.
As Sri Lanka experiences increases in population growth, urbanization, income levels and ambient air temperature, the demand for cooling related energy such as refrigerators and air conditioning equipment - which are known to be sources of Ozone-depletion, progressively increases as well. Sri Lanka is significantly vulnerable to impacts from climate change, which makes it imperative that we adopt mitigatory measures to meet international commitments, to achieve the 1.5-degree Celsius mission and protect the Ozone layer.
The Montreal Protocol
Scientists confirmed the depletion of the Ozone layer and the urgent need for global action to protect it, which culminated in the drafting of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol. This Protocol sets out guidelines to control and phase-out global production and consumption of 100 chemical substances that contribute towards depleting the Ozone layer, with the end goal of eliminating the use of these substances.
On 16th September 2009, the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol became the first treaties to be ratified universally, indicating a unanimous global commitment to phase-out Ozone-depleting substances, heal the Ozone layer and protect humans, health, economies and ecosystems. With the Kigali Amendment, the Protocol evolved to become an even more powerful instrument to fight climate change with a global agreement to phase-down hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs) - a crucial step to keep global temperature rise below 1.5-degree Celsius.
On this year’s World Ozone Day, we celebrate the significance of the Montreal Protocol towards slowing climate change, helping to boost energy efficiency in the cooling sector and enhancing food security.
UNDPs commitment to protecting the Ozone layer
Sri Lanka acceded to the Montreal Protocol in December 1989. The Ministry of Environment and the National Ozone Unit (NOU) have been spearheading efforts to protect the Ozone layer by rolling out programmes to phase-out Ozone-depleting substances through projects in partnership with key stakeholders, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka.
With a presence of over 5 decades of service in Sri Lanka, UNDP has been working closely with the Ministry of Environment, the key focal agency to implement the Montreal Protocol, for over 21 years and has mobilized over USD 6 million through the implementation of 28 projects. UNDP continues to work closely with the National Ozone Unit within the Ministry of Environment, providing capacity building, technology transfer, technical assistance, formulation and implementation of country and sector strategies, and facilitating public and private partnerships.
Sri Lanka’s achievements
As a result of the phase-out of methyl bromide in the tea industry, efforts supported and implemented by UNDP together with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Sri Lanka launched the ‘Ozone Friendly Pure Ceylon Tea’ logo in May 2011, to promote Sri Lanka's best-known export product that continues to sustain an industry worth USD 1.5 billion a year.
Sri Lanka’s achievements stand out regionally and globally. The country gradually halted the usage of Chroloflurocarbons (CFC) ahead of the target time frame and is now phasing-out a range of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC). In 2007, Sri Lanka was awarded the prestigious ‘Implementer’s Award’ at the 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, with the NOU also receiving many other global and national level recognition for its efforts, projects and public-private partnerships at the highest level.
As of today, Sri Lanka has phased out 4.86 tonnes of HCFCs in Stage I of the HPMP project. A reduction of 35 % of the baseline of 13.9 tonnes of ozone-depleting substance consumption in 2013, Stage II of the HPMP project will look at completely phasing out the consumption of HCFCs in Sri Lanka by 2030. The Institutional Strengthening (IS) Phase XII project established the licensing procedure for HCFCs and has formulated the roadmap to implement the Kigali Amendment in the country.
Collaborative efforts
The Ministry of Environment as a champion of efforts, is working closely with UNDP and UNEP to phaseout the Ozone depleting substances by 2030. The joint UNDP and UNEP efforts towards the HPMP project has entailed developing regulations for controls on the supply and use of HCFCs in the country, stronger enforcement of national regulations - particularly on the import and export of HCFCs and products, and a replacement incentive programme for faster adoption of HCFC free alternatives in domestic air conditioning and industrial equipment.
Additionally, the main aim of the Institutional Strengthening (IS) project is to enable Sri Lanka to establish the necessary framework within the Government of Sri Lanka, with a national focal point in place to address issues and activities related to the Montreal Protocol, while the NOU facilitates interaction between relevant partners and government entities, as well as implementation of activities. The project also enables all stakeholders to obtain and develop the necessary skills and understanding of procedures and issues relative to the Montreal Protocol, thus expediting implementation and compliance of standards.
Parallelly, the Ministry of Environment with the support of UNDP in Sri Lanka developed the Sri Lanka Cooling Action Plan (CAP) in 2019 and 2020, in line with the Kigali Amendment. The CAP aims to provide an integrated vision towards cooling across sectors including space cooling in buildings, cold chains and refrigeration, reducing cooling demands, encouraging refrigerant transitions, enhancing energy efficiency and promoting alternative technology options from 2020 to 2038. The CAP will support the transition from HCFCs to Ozone and climate-friendly alternatives which have low or zero global warming potential, while also working towards improving energy efficiency. This will set Sri Lanka on a trajectory to achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions, driving innovation and green development.
Building Forward Better
Despite the challenges due to COVID-19, there has been remarkable resilience shown, which is evident in the work carried out in the past year continuing the work set out by the Montreal Protocol. The treaty has continued to do its work, countries are meeting their commitments, and the ozone layer and climate system are being protected by these actions.
This Ozone Day 2021, UNDP renews its commitment in working together with the Government of Sri Lanka and all relevant stakeholders, to realize the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in this Decade of Action, as we transition to a more sustainable and green future.
After all, climate change is the greatest threat to our future – and an intact Ozone Layer is vital in slowing it down.
Sampath Ranasinghe Programme Coordinator (Energy & Waste) Climate and Environment Team United Nations Development Programme Sri Lanka