Zimbabwean Stakeholders Collaborate To Phase Out Ozone Depleting Substances

By Wallace Mawire

 Various stakeholders in Zimbabwe are collaborating to phase out ozone depleting substances in conformity with the Montreal Protocol.

 Today, 16 September,2024, Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating the Interantional Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer,popularly known as the World Ozone Day.According to Dr Sithembiso Nyoni,Minister of Environment,Climate and Wildlife,the 16^th September is the International Day for the preservation of the Ozone Layer commonly known as the World Ozone Day.

  On the 16^th of September in 1987, countries of the World adopted the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

  The Montreal Protocol aims to gradually reduce and eventually eliminated the production and use of man-made chemicals that deplete the ozone layer.

  On the 22^nd December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the 16^th September as the International Day for the preservation of the Ozone Layer, through resolution 49/114 and invited all Parties to commemorate this important day every year.

 The stratospheric ozone layer acts as a shield which protects life on earth from dangerous Ultra-Violet (UV) radiation from the sun and allowing only sufficient UV doses that are needed for the sustenance of life for human beings, plants and animals. Man-made chemicals used mostly in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) are depleting this protective ozone layer.

   Depletion of this vital protective shield causes eye cataracts, skin cancers and suppresses the immune system in human beings. Ozone layer also depletion reduces crop yields, degrades synthetic materials and affects aquatic organisms.  The Government of Zimbabwe, being a party to the Montreal Protocol, therefore joins the rest of the World in commemorating this important day.

The theme for this year’s World Ozone Day commemorations is “Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Action”.

  The 2022 Scientific Assessment Panel Report confirmed that ozone layer recovery is on track and ozone levels are expected to return to 1980 levels by around 2066 over the Antarctic and by around 2046 over the Artic.

  This was made possible through restricting the use of ozone-depleting substances and allowing the ozone layer to slowly recover. The Montreal Protocol has protected millions of people from skin cancer and eye cataracts, safeguarding ecosystems and slowing down climate change. The Montreal Protocol has managed to eliminate more than 99.9% of the ozone-depleting substances which are also greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and climate change.

  The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol which was adopted in October 2016 aims to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which are powerful greenhouse gases that replaced ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in the cooling industry.

 Dr Nyoni said that this puts the Montreal Protocol at the forefront of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements fighting to combat climate change.

  ‘’Hence the theme for this year’s Ozone Day commemorations. The Government of Zimbabwe ratified the Kigali Amendment on the 18^th October 2022 and is implementing activities to phase down the use of HFCs in all sectors,’’she said.

  She said that after ratifying the Kigali Amendment, her Ministry reviewed the old regulations and promulgated new regulations to control the use of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in addition to Ozone Depleting Substances.

  The revised regulations were promulgated through SI 49 of 2023 on the 11^th April 2023.

  The Ministry works closely with Customs Officers and Environmental Officers at major ports of entry and stations across the country to enforce the provisions of these regulations.

 She said that whilst the regulations control the import and use of substances that deplete the ozone layer and cause global warming, they facilitate local industries to operate in a sustainable manner.

  She added that the regulations enable the local industry to be competitive whilst meeting international standards by adopting climate friendly alternatives that are now readily available.

  The ministry has  worked with the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) and the Ministry of Energy and Power Development to develop and publish the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for domestic refrigerators and air conditioning appliances.

 The MEPS will have a strong bearing on  energy demands as they will promote energy efficient appliances.

    Nyoni said that as the world replaces HFCs with ozone and climate friendly refrigerants such as hydrocarbons (HCs), they  are setting themselves on a course to tackle both ozone layer depletion and climate change thereby improving the quality of life on earth.

   ‘’Reducing HFCs use, is expected to avoid up to 0.4°C of global temperature rise by the end of this century, while simultaneously continuing to protect the stratospheric ozone layer,’’she said.   

  The Ozone Day commemoration is being held as the  Ministry is implementing the Second Stage of the Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) Phase out Management Plan (HPMP) and has just submitted the Stage I Kigali Implementation Plan for consideration at the 95^th meeting of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund.

  The Second Stage HPMP will enable the country to eliminate the use of HCFCs by the 1^st January 2030 and this will result in more climate benefits as these substances have high Global Warming Potentials. Stage I Kigali Implementation Plan will enable the country to reduce its HFC consumption by 10% in 2029.

  The Stage II HPMP and Stage I Kigali Implementation Plan are  being implemented in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

  Tools and equipment for use by Refrigeration and Air conditioning practitioners have been procured and distributed to all Polytechnics and Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling Centres in major cities and towns.

 Tools for use by customs officers to combat illegal trade in unwanted substances are awaiting delivery.

  ‘’I greatly appreciate the support my Ministry is receiving from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and the Refrigeration industry in phasing out substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol,’’ Dr Nyoni said.

  She thanked all  stakeholders for their continued support in the  programmes to eliminate Ozone Depleting Substances and Greenhouses Gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning and other sectors.

 ‘Through your unwavering support, we will sustain our compliance to the provisions of the Montreal Protocol and help to protect all forms of life on earth,’’Dr Nyoni said.