Featuring Dr Erandathie Pathiraja, Research Economist, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.

1. Tell me about yourself, Dr Erandathie? What are you currently researching at IPS?

I work as a research economist at the IPS. My research areas are industrial and environmental economics. These two areas in combination are crucial for a sustainable development. So I was enthusiastic in studying and researching in these two areas. Currently, I involve in formulation of the National Cooling Policy of Sri Lanka for the cooling industry.

2. How would you express the importance of today: Ozone day?

Every year International Ozone Day reminds and teaches us the importance of protecting the ozone layer. The United Nations General Assembly declared 16 September the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer in 1994. This date was selected to commemorate the date of the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987; on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. In 2021, the UNEP theme for the ozone day is “Montreal Protocol – KEEPING US, OUR FOOD AND VACCINES COOL”.
 

3. What is the ozone layer and why it is important?

The ozone layer is a concentration of ozone molecules (O3), in the stratosphere. Troposphere is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere that immediately surrounds us. The next higher layer, which extends about 10 to 50 kilometers above the Earth's surface, is called the stratosphere. Stratospheric ozone is a naturally occurring gas. It filters the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Overexposure to UV rays can be harmful for people in numerous ways. For example, it can deteriorate our immune system, cause skin cancers and vision loss due to cataracts. Further, increased UV (B) impairs the photosynthesis and can also lead to reduced crop yield and disruptions in the ocean food chain.

4. It is evident that the Ozone layer is depleting and what are the causes for such depletion?

Stratospheric ozone molecules are constantly being produced and destroyed by the UV rays from the sun. Usually, ozone production and destruction in the stratosphere is balanced and the amount of ozone at a given time is stable. However, there are certain chemicals that react with UV radiation in the stratosphere, and break apart and release chlorine or bromine atoms.

These atoms destroy ozone molecules. The long-term depletion of ozone is primarily attributed to increases in reactive halogen gases (due to human activities) which contain chlorine and bromine. Other than that, increase in aerosols from naturally occurring volcano eruptions and changes in solar radiation affect the abundance of stratospheric ozone.

How does the cooling sector contribute to Ozone depletion and climate change? Cooling sector consumes refrigerants. Some of these refrigerants are Ozone-depleting substances (ODS) while others are non-ozone depleting substitutes. ODSs, which include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs), were widely used in refrigerants, insulating foams, solvents, and other applications. These substances all release chlorine atoms into the stratosphere. So actions were taken to eliminate and phase out the use of ODSs as refrigerants.

ODSs and many of their non-ozone depleting substitutes are potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Some ODSs and ODS substitutes have global warming potentials (GWP) that are thousands of times greater than that of carbon dioxide. Recently, ODS alternatives with lower GWP have become available. Similarly, fossil fuel energy consumed in the cooling sector appliances contributes to carbon emissions.

6.  What are the efforts taken internationally to protect the Ozone Layer?

The Vienna convention of 1985 was the first framework agreement towards conserving the ozone layer. Montreal Protocol signed in 1987 is widely recognized as the world’s most successful environmental treaty. It eliminated the great threat to the ozone layer from chlorofluorocarbons and other fluorinated gases. The latest move of Montreal Protocol is 2016 Kigali Amendment to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), primarily used as refrigerants. HFCs do not affect the ozone layer; they are potent greenhouse gases with the potential to avoid up to 0.5°C of warming by the end of the century.

7. How is Sri Lanka fit into those international efforts?

Sri Lanka being a party to Vienna Convention and Montreal protocol, National Ozone Unit of the Ministry of Environment serves as the National Focal Point (NFP). Sri Lanka was successful in eliminating CFCs well in advance of the scheduled timeline. At present, plans for phasing out HCFC are in progress while phasing out HFC is planned to be commenced in 2024. The MOE has taken an initiative to formulate a National Cooling Policy (NCP) for Sri Lanka with the assistance from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The National Ozone Unit (NOU) is taking the leadership in this initiative and invited the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) of Sri Lanka, the apex policy research think tank in the country, to assist the process of formulating the NCP.

8. What do the readers should know about the National Cooling Policy (NCP) of Sri Lanka?

In line with the Kigali amendment of Montreal Protocol, NCP aims to provide efficient, sustainable and affordable cooling for all. It covers all the aspects of the cool chain and cooling industry; aiming reasonable thermal comfort for people (space cooling, mobile air conditioning) preservation of products and produce (medicines, food, etc.), and effective and efficient processes (for example data centres, industrial or agricultural production and processing). It contributes most of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). Transforming to low GWP refrigerants and energy efficient technologies is the main focus of NCP. Moreover, the use of passive cooling technologies, green building concepts, traditional knowledge, clean and renewable energy and enhancing the skills of cooling sector employees will be facilitated through the policy.