15 April 2011
Funding to phase-out HCFCs in 39 countries to safeguard the ozone layer and mitigate climate change
During its 63rd Meeting in Montreal 4-8 April 2011, the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol agreed to commit over US $40 million to phase-out nearly 400 ODP tonnes of HCFCs in 39 developing countries*. HCFCs, which not only destroy the stratospheric ozone layer but are also greenhouse gases, are being used in these countries mainly as refrigerants in air conditioners and industrial and commercial refrigeration, as a blowing agent for the manufacture of foam, and to a lesser extent as solvents.
The assistance from the Multilateral Fund will support the 39 countries to implement HCFC phase‑out management plans (HPMPs) to meet the specific phase-out targets set by the Montreal Protocol. Twenty‑seven of the countries will each implement an individual HPMP while the 12 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) will implement one HPMP for the entire sub-region of small island countries. The regional approach aims not only to facilitate HCFC phase-out in the PICs but also to be the most cost‑effective use of funds.
All 39 countries have pledged at a minimum to meet the first two Montreal Protocol control measures for HCFCs, namely the freeze in HCFC consumption by 2013 and the 10 per cent reduction by 2015. Twenty-five countries with low volumes of HCFC consumption intend to achieve the 35 per cent HCFC reduction target by 2020. While most countries will approach the phase‑out of HCFCs in a stepwise approach and address the total phase-out in a subsequent stage of their HPMPs, the Executive Committee approved HPMPs for five countries (Bhutan, Mauritius, Namibia, Papua New Guinea and Seychelles) to completely phase-out HCFCs well in advance of the Montreal Protocol’s 2040 deadline, in some cases as early as 2020. For these countries the governments concerned had provided a strong commitment to accelerating HCFC phase-out.
The HPMPs approved for the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mongolia, Swaziland, and Viet Nam will convert foam and/or air-conditioning manufacturing plants from HCFC-based to alternative ozone friendly technologies. An investment project for the phase-out of HCFCs used in aerosol manufacturing in Mexico was also approved. The introduction of the alternative technologies in the manufacturing sector and better practices in the refrigeration servicing sector together with enforcement of HCFC import controls by governments will result in a reduction in CO2-equivalent tonnes emitted into the atmosphere and thus provide an overall climate benefit.
In addition to the HPMPs the Executive Committee also approved a number of other projects. These included global activities to be carried out by UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO and the World Bank in order to address the mobilization of resources to maximize the climate co-benefits of HCFC phase-out. Two pilot projects were approved to address the management and disposal of waste ozone depleting substances (ODS) in Ghana and Mexico. The funding would provide start up money that could be leveraged by the two countries not only to destroy ODS waste but also to provide climate benefits. Finally the Executive Committee approved funding for institutional strengthening for nine countries, the second tranche of the national phase-out plans to assist Eritrea and Iraq to sustain zero consumption of CFCs and facilitate the phase-out of HCFCs, and a project for the preparation of methyl bromide phase-out activities in Ecuador.
*Afghanistan; Benin; Bhutan; Chile; Congo; Democratic Republic of Congo; Georgia; Guyana; Honduras; Islamic Republic of Iran; Kyrgyzstan; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Liberia; Mali; Mauritius; Republic of Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Namibia; Papua New Guinea; Paraguay; Sao Tome and Principe; Seychelles; Swaziland; Timor-Leste; the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; Viet Nam and the 12 Pacific Island Countries on a regional basis (Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States Of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu).
The Multilateral Fund is managed by an Executive Committee which is responsible for overseeing the operation of the Fund. The Committee comprises seven members from developed and seven members from developing countries. In 2011 the Committee membership includes Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Japan, Switzerland, United States of America (developed countries) and Argentina, China, Cuba, Grenada, Kenya, Kuwait, Morocco (developing country members) and is chaired by Mr. Patrick McInerney of Australia. The Committee is assisted by the Fund Secretariat which is based in Montreal, Canada. Activities are implemented by four international agencies (UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, World Bank) and a number of bilateral government agencies. Since 1991, the Multilateral Fund has approved activities including industrial conversion, technical assistance, training and capacity building worth over US $2.6 billion that will result in the phase out of over 450,000 ODP tonnes of consumption and production of ozone-depleting substances in developing countries. In September 2007 the Parties to the Montreal Protocol decided to accelerate the freeze and phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). The Multilateral Fund intends to finance HCFC phase‑out in all 144 developing countries eligible for its financial and technical assistance and as at the 63rd Meeting of the Executive Committee, 60 countries have HPMPs in place, 13 of which will address the Montreal Protocol control measures up to 2015, and 39 up to 2020. Eight countries already have plans in place to completely phase-out HCFCs.
For further information, please contact:
Julia Anne Dearing
Information Management Officer
Secretariat of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol
1000, De La Gauchetière Street West
Montreal, Quebec
H3B 4W5, Canada
Phone: (1-514) 282-1122
Fax: (1-514) 282-0068
E-mail:
secretariat@unmfs.org