July 27, 2007

32 developing countries to receive US $33.4 million to eliminate substances that harm the ozone layer

An additional US $33.4 million is to be made available immediately to 32 developing countries to assist their industries in phasing out over 1,300 tonnes of substances that deplete the ozone layer.   Projects approved by the Executive Committee  included plans to phase-out the consumption of CFCs in the refrigeration servicing sectors of Bhutan, Comoros, Costa Rica, Gabon, Kuwait, Madagascar, Moldova, Nepal, Oman, Saint Lucia and Senegal to assist those countries to achieve the Montreal Protocol’s deadline  of 2010 for the elimination of CFC’s.  As the acceleration of the elimination of CFC’s is one of the Executive Committee’s priorities, it also earmarked $2.3 million for Argentina to close down its production of CFCs by the end of 2007, more than two years ahead of Argentina’s current schedule and the 2010 deadline.

Recognizing the potential difficulties faced by several developing countries in phasing out their consumption of CFCs for the production of metered dose inhaler (MDIs), also known as aerosol inhalers, the Committee approved project preparation in the CFC‑MDI sector for India and Mexico and transition strategies and investment projects for CFC phase-out in the MDI sector for Bangladesh and the Islamic Republic of Iran.  Regional workshops on metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) will also be carried out in developing countries as part of UNEP’s networking activities.

For more information, please read this summary of the 52nd Meeting.

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 2007 by Mr. Philippe Chemouny of Canada. 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 (China, Guinea, Jordan, Mexico, Sudan, Saint Lucia and Uruguay in 2007) and non-Article 5 countries (Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Japan, Sweden and the USA in 2007).  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
Fax: +1 514 282-0068
Email:  secretariat@unmfs.org
Website:  www.multilateralfund.org