UNEP applauds Indonesia`s plan to ban CFCs, methyl bromide imports

Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has applauded Indonesia`s plan to ban the importation of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and methyl bromide as of January 1, 2008.

UNEP congratulated Indonesia for its pro-active steps which, it said, should be emulatd by other countries in the region, said Atul Bagai, Regional Coordinator for Networking of the Bangkok-based UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific said in Sanur, Bali island, on Saturday.

Indonesia had taken a big step as it would put the country two years ahead of the 2010 schedule for the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol, Bagai told participants of a UNEP-sponsored meeting dubbed Special Dialogue on Potential Actions for controlling and Monitoring ODS (Ozone Depleting Substance) trade in South Asia and South East Asia in Sanur.

He said Indonesia was one of the first few countries in the region to meet the deadline of the CFC phase out ahead of schedule.

The Special Dialogue on Actions for Controlling and Monitoring ODS trade in South Asia/ South East Asia is being held in parallel with the Sweden-funded first Regional Enforcement Network (REN) Workshop, from November 8 to 10, 2007, and to be followed by the Joint Meeting of South East Asia (SEAP) and South Asia (SA) Networks of ODS Officers organized by the UNEP from November 12 to 14, 2007, also in Sanur, Bali.

The Dialogue was attended by Indonesian ODS importers and traders, representatives of ODS producing and exporting countries such as China, India and Korea, and Montreal Protocol implementing agencies which include UNEP, UNDP, and the World Bank.

Meanwhile, UNEP in its press release quoted Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, as saying "In a few short weeks, nations will gather in Bali, Indonesia, for the UN climate convention meeting. Here countries must urgently and earnestly address the need for a post-2012 greenhouse gas emission regime".

Steiner said that Indonesia`s announcement on its ODS import ban was a further good signal, among many positive signals this year, that governments could move on the climate change challenge.

"The phase-out of CFCs was agreed on in order to protect the ozone layer. But new research has shown that this phase-out has had the double environmental and economic benefit of also helping to combat climate change-CFCs it emerges are also powerful greenhouse gases," he added.

"And there are many other win-wins that can be secured. In September, governments also agreed to an accelerated freeze and phase-out of HCFCs - also controlled under the Montreal Protocol - specifically because of their climate impacts. Perhaps if we use our collective creativities we can pick more low hanging fruit from phasing-out of old, energy inefficient light bulbs to more energy efficient buildings," said Steiner.

Surendra Shrestha, Regional Director of UNEP Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok in the UNEP press statement said that Efforts by countries like Indonesia, not only to comply with agreed upon targets under the treaty, but also to meet them ahead of time, is testimony to their commitment to meet promises made under the Montreal Protocol.

"Much time, effort and work has gone into meeting these obligations, and Indonesia and other countries in this region, who are continuously working to meet this 2010 deadline, should be applauded for this effort," said Surendra Shrestha.

With support provided by the Protocol`s Multilateral Fund, Indonesia reduced consumption of CFCs from 9,000 tons in 1996 to 2000 tons in 2005, used mostly by refrigeration, air conditioning, and automotive sectors.

Consumption of methyl bromide, not under quarantine regulations, has dropped from 140 tons in 1994 to 32 tons in 2005. Methyl bromide is used for soil treatment and fumigation.

"We feel confident that the ban will encourage consumers to switch to ozone-friendly alternatives, although the main challenge to effectively banning CFC is illegal trade. At the same time, we also need to look at alternatives for the use of methyl bromide, which is on the rise in this region", said Masnellyarti Hilman, Deputy Minister for Nature Conservation Enhancement and Environmental Degradation Control of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment.

Growth in consumption of methyl bromide in quarantine applications in the region is more than 10% per annum, according to UNEP.