Montreal Protocol the only treaty to deliver by end of the year?
[ added 4 November, 2009 ]
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It has become increasingly clear that a fully-worked out climate treaty will not emerge from Copenhagen in December. However, one should not be surprised if the ozone treaty negotiators fulfill their own bid to slow global warming.
The so-called Montreal Protocol has achieved ozone recovery but has not prevented other climate unfriendly substances to grow when replacing HCFCs. The global stratospheric ozone treaty is more and more perceived though as an appropriate means to ramp down the global use of hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs. This year climate and ozone interactions are of heightened interest to negotiators. The choices of coordinated policies and economic measures to protect the ozone layer and climate, and the selection of climate-friendly technologies to replace HCFCs, are at the forefront of discussions worldwide. These measures are being debated from 4-8 November at the annual meeting of the Montreal Protocol, in Egypt.
Ozone treaty negotiators are optimistic about their capacity to use the Montreal Protocol to slow global warming. If this is confirmed, the 1987 treaty will most likely be the only treaty to deliver results before the end of the year.
The participants of the ozone meeting can have a closer look at technological solutions showcased by some companies, delivering on the ozone and climate targets currently at stake.
The Sanyo Corporation holds a booth showcasing a CO2 Cassette System for Bottle Coolers. The beverage showcase cassette uses CO2, which has a quasi-null impact on the environment, as opposed to CFCs that it replaces. In addition, by incorporating the Sanyo proprietary highly efficient compressor, the CFC-free cassette helps reducing energy consumption of the equipment. Parties to the Montreal Protocol are thus shown concrete examples for reducing both direct and indirect emissions of the cooling device.
The GTZ booth showcases Hydrocarbon Room Air-Conditioning Systems manufactured in China.
The project aims to introduce the production of room air-conditioning systems using natural refrigerants (hydrocarbons) instead of HCFCs, thereby establishing a best-practice model.
GTZ has launched this project in cooperation with by the biggest Chinese manufacturer of air conditioners worldwide, Gree Electric Appliances Inc. The project is also implemented in cooperation with the Chinese Ministry for Environmental Protection/Foreign Economic Cooperation Office and the China Household Electrical Appliances Association.
