April 2, 2004

44 developing countries receive additional funds to protect the ozone layer

A further US$ 74 million has been provided from the Multilateral Fund to 44 developing countries to phase out over 8000 tonnes of ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs, carbon tetrachloride, TCA, halons, and methyl bromide.  The Multilateral Fund, currently standing at US$ 2 billion fund, was set up to assist developing countries to comply with the terms of the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement that sets out a timetable for the phase out of ozone-depleting substances in both developed and developing countries.

At their meeting in Montreal, the birthplace of the Protocol, the Executive Committee also approved financing for projects and activities to assist Côte d’Ivoire and Mexico phase out their use of methyl bromide, a substance considered to be particularly harmful to the ozone layer. Methyl bromide is used as a fumigant for high‑value crops, for pest control and for the quarantine treatment of agricultural commodities and timbers awaiting export.   Under the Montreal Protocol, developing countries are committed to reducing their methyl bromide use by 20% no later than 2007 and phasing it out completely by 1 January 2015.   Following up on the outcome of last week’s extraordinary meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol to discuss the timetable for the ban on the production and consumption of methyl bromide in developed countries, the Executive Committee is looking at further ways of assisting developing countries to implement the ban. The next Executive Committee meeting in July 2004 will examine this issue in more depth. The Executive Committee of the Fund also committed US$ 31 million of funding for national plans in Argentina, Bangladesh, India, Mexico, Sri Lanka  and Venezuela  that will phase out  the combined consumption of more than 8,000 tonnes of CFCs  over the next few years.  In the Latin American region and in India the phase-out of CFCs is fully coordinated with reductions in CFC production. As CFC consumption is reduced, a concomitant reduction in CFC production will take place through agreements that are either already in place or now being completed.

Marcia Levaggi (Argentina). Chair of the Executive Committe in 2004.

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