Montreal Protocol Reduces Emissions and Protects Climate!

As the international community proudly celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Convention for Protection of the Ozone Layer, the success story of protecting the ozone layer resonates in all fora. Today the world boasts of having phased out 98 per cent of ozone depleting substances (ODS). However, the use of ODS continues to increase in technologies which are indispensable to life on Earth.

The achievements of the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector over the past century are astounding: they have created a revolution in equipment and refrigerants to meet consumer demands, improve livelihoods and address environmental challenges.

Today, the emissions of refrigerants, as well as the carbon dioxide emissions generated from the electricity used to run the equipment, is at the heart of global debates on climate change, ozone layer protection and energy efficiency.

Globally, refrigeration consumes 15 to 20 per cent of the world’s total electricity. An estimated 185 billion KWh of energy is used annually on residential cooling. Thus we urgently need refrigeration and cooling options that are both energy efficient and climate friendly.

Not only does energy efficiency reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions, but it can also increase productivity and sustainability through the delivery of energy savings, and support social development by increasing employment and energy security.

Indeed, energy efficiency is the area where most emission reductions can be achieved in the short term and is therefore critical to combating climate change. Energy efficient technologies use less energy to provide the same or better service. When deployed in large numbers, they can substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This year, 2015, is crucial for global and regional action on the environment and sustainable development. In late September 2015, the world leaders meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York adopted a new global plan of action known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Defining the next phase in international development, the SDGs comprise 17 goals and 169 targets aimed at resolving the social, economic and environmental problems troubling the world. The SDGs aim to ensure lasting protection of our planet and its natural resources. They show that efforts to eradicate energy poverty, promote universal access to cleaner forms of energy, and a doubling of energy efficiency would go a long way in mitigating the worst impacts of climate change.

We in the global ozone community are very proud that the Montreal Protocol is contributing both directly and indirectly to energy efficiency, pursuit of SDGs, promoting public health and protecting the environment. The Montreal Protocol has far exceeded its original aims. While protecting the ozone layer, it has contributed
substantially to climate mitigation, social development, food safety and security, public health and the creation of large numbers of green jobs.

Reducing the production and use of HFCs, refrigerants/ foaming agents with global warming potentials (GWP) hundreds to thousands of times higher than CO2 is the largest, fastest and most cost effective short-term climate mitigation option currently available.

A variety of climate-friendly, low GWP alternatives for refrigerants and foaming agents are currently available. These include carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrocarbon, low GWP HFCs and some ‘not-in-kind” technologies such as solar technologies and district cooling.

In December 2015, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP21, will be held in Paris, where governments hope to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate change. The road to Paris has not been an easy one, but as the 30 year history of ozone protection shows, nations can and do rise to meet global environmental threats.

Climate change represents one of the greatest challenges to humanity. But it is also an opportunity to move to a low-carbon, resource-efficient Green Economy. The Montreal Protocol is already contributing in all its dimensions to the climate, energy and ozone nexus and will continue to serve as the beacon of hope for environmental sustainability.

Dr Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Head OzonAction, UNEP DTIE

OzonAction Special Issue 2015: 30 Years of Healing Ozone Together: BEYOND HCFCs