April 11, 2006

Multilateral Fund looks to 2007 and 2010 targets

The 48th Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol met last week to plan its business for 2006, 2007 and 2008.   Conscious of the 2010 Montreal Protocol phase-out target for CFCs and halons, the two most commonly used ozone depleting substances (ODSs), the Committee decided to allocate a higher percentage of its triennial budget of US$470 million to years 2006 and 2007.  The Committee endorsed the three-year business plans of the Fund’s implementing agencies and scheduled US $164.5 million worth of projects, activities and bilateral cooperation in 2006 with the aim of phasing out 42,175 ODP tonnes of ODS.  

One particular area of concern to the Executive Committee is the phase-out of CFCs in the refrigeration servicing sector in smaller countries given their obligation to comply with the 2007 and 2010 Protocol deadlines.   The Multilateral Fund’s implementing agencies were asked to do their utmost to advance plans for CFC phase-out in these smaller countries and present them, if possible, for consideration to the Executive Committee’s 50^th meeting in November 2006.

At the meeting the Executive Committee also approved US $63 million for 47 developing countries for projects and activities to assist their industries in phasing out an additional 2,453  tonnes of ODS consumption and 18,212 tonnes of ODS production.

Background information 

The ozone layer which absorbs ultraviolet radiation harmful to living organisms and human health, is in danger from several chemicals currently used in industry and agriculture such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform and methyl bromide.

The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol began its operation in 1991. The main objective of the Multilateral Fund is to assist developing country parties to the Montreal Protocol whose annual per capita consumption and production of ozone-depleting substances is less than 0.3 kg to comply with the control measures of the Protocol. These countries are referred to as Article 5 countries.

The Fund is managed by an Executive Committee chaired in 2006 by Mr. Khaled Klaly of Syria. The Committee is assisted by the Fund Secretariat which is based in Montreal.  Activities are implemented by four international agencies (UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, World Bank) and a number of bilateral implementing agencies of donor countries.  Responsibility for overseeing the operation of the Fund rests with the Executive Committee comprising seven members each from Article 5 countries (Brazil, Burundi, Guinea, India, Mexico, the Syrian Arab Republic and Zambia) and non-Article 5 countries (Australia, Belgium Czech Republic, Italy, Japan, Sweden and the USA).  Since 1991, the Multilateral Fund has approved activities including industrial conversion, technical assistance, training and capacity building worth over US $2 billion.

For further information, please contact:

Julia Anne Dearing
Information Management Officer
Secretariat of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol
1800 McGill College, 27th floor
Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 3J6
Phone: +1-(514) 282-1122
Cell : +1 514 568  9375
Fax: +1 (514) 282-0068
Email: secretariat@unmfs.org
Website:  www.multilateralfund.org