IP/99/968
Brussels, 10 December 1999
EU secures better protection of ozone layer through
stricter international control of harmful substances
The European Commission, in co-operation with Member States, succeeded
in achieving significant strengthening of the controls on substances that
deplete the ozone layer, at the Beijing Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal
Protocol. The European Union had proposed a comprehensive and
significant package of proposals for consideration by about 150 countries
attending the meeting. The agreement in Beijing comes at the time when the
ozone layer is reaching its most vulnerable state. Despite significant
decrease in emissions of harmful substances world-wide, the level of
depletion of the ozone layer is expected to remain at its maximum over the
next two decades. This is because large amounts of ozone depleting
substances continue to reach the ozone layer as a result of historical large
scale emissions in the past. The controls agreed will help to avoid future
harmful effects of high levels of UV radiation recently recorded in Europe.
For the first time, the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, who met in Beijing, China,
from 29 November to 3 December 1999, agreed to freeze the production of
HCFCs (Hydrochlorofluorocarbons) for developed countries in 2004 and
developing countries in 2016. HCFCs are widely used in refrigeration and foam
blowing operations, but European industries have taken a lead in adopting
alternatives for these ozone-damaging compounds. Trade controls agreed at the
meeting will bring further benefits as they will encourage all parties to sign onto
previous Protocol agreements.
Significantly, government officials attending the meeting agreed to take the first
steps in closing the loophole to end unlimited use of the agricultural fumigant
methyl bromide. Methyl bromide is a significant ozone depleter, widely used in
agriculture and for quarantine to control pests on food crops. Soon all countries will
be obliged to report officially to the United Nations on the quantities of this gas that
they use for quarantine purposes. Parties also agreed to accept a strict definition
for pre-shipment fumigation that will further limit the use of this gas.
As another result of the meeting, the supplies of ozone damaging chemicals
shipped from developed to developing countries will be limited. CFCs
(chlorofluorocarbons) from developed countries are presently being sold cheaply in
developing countries, making their move to cleaner but more costly alternatives
difficult. The decision reached in Beijing will eliminate this practice by successively
phasing out all CFC production in developed countries and hence the supply of
cheap CFCs to developing countries. CFC chemicals were widely used before they
were banned in 1996 in Europe. They are a major cause of ozone depletion.
A recently identified ozone-depleting substance bromochloromethane, which some
companies have started marketing as a solvent, was also brought under the
control of the Montreal Protocol. It will be banned by 2002.
The changes to the Montreal Protocol agreed in Beijing are not as far-reaching as
the EU’s own new Council Regulation on ozone layer protection which is in the
process of being adopted1. However, the agreements represent a significant step
forward for the protection of the ozone layer.
Although the European Union succeeded in achieving a large part of its objectives,
there are still many outstanding issues and challenges under the Montreal Protocol
including ensuring compliance, restricting the use of Methyl Bromide for quarantine
purposes and advancing the HCFC phase out schedules. The Community will
need to continue to take a leading role if further progress is to be made.
The Montreal Protocol for the Protection of the ozone layer was established in
1987 and to date more than 160 countries have signed up to the initial agreement.
The Protocol has been amended in 1990, 1992, 1997 and now in Beijing, including
more substances and advancing the phaseout schedules. As a result of the
Protocol and its amendments, the ozone layer is expected to recover slowly within
the next 50 years. The duration of the maximum ozone depletion and the speed of
the recovery is however dependent on full compliance and on all Parties signing up
to the amendments.
1
Common position reached on 22 February 1999. (See IP/98/594 of 1 August
1998 on the Commission’s proposal for a new EU Regulation)
2