16 September 2009 marks an exceptional milestone for the Montreal Protocol on Ozone Depleting Substances. Today Timor-Leste has completed the official ratification of the ozone protection treaties, making the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer the first treaty to ever achieve universal participation.
The ratification of the Ozone treaty by the youngest democracy in the world brings together the whole international community to protect the ozone layer. Until today, Timor-Leste was the only remaining state outside of the ozone protection regime. As such, the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol, the instruments for repairing the earth’s protective shield have achieved UNIVERSAL SUPPORT.
South Africa welcomes Timor-Leste as the 196th party to the global ozone-layer protection family and congratulates them for joining hands with the international community to preserve the ozone layer.
The success of the Montreal Protocol is without equal. The Protocol has driven the phase-out of the use of over 97% of controlled ozone-depleting substances. In this regard, it is encouraging to note that the end of 2009 will mark another significant milestone in the history of the implementation of the Montreal Protocol – the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), among other potent ozone-depleting substances, whose production and use will be ceased completely except for less that 1% of the cases where essential uses are allowed for medical reasons.
Following the 2007 decision to accelerate the phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has initiated a process to inform phase-out strategies and action plans. Working groups have been established to address the use of HCFCs in refrigeration, foam and fire protection. The first draft of a HCFC management plan is expected to be completed by March 2010.
Furthermore, regulations on ozone depleting substances are currently being developed to provide transparency and certainty to industry, and to ensure that South Africa remains in compliance with the Montreal Protocol.
With respect to the phase-out of methyl bromide, DEA is working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Working groups have also been established with a view of updating the work undertaken on methyl bromide use in the country in 2003, and the development of a phase-out and management plan.
Recalling that a key motivation for acceleration of the phase-out of HCFCs was the co-benefits for climate change, South Africa welcomes the ongoing endeavours of the Montreal Protocol to support the efforts underway to adequately address climate change. South Africa calls for similar commitment and spirit of cooperation which has underpinned the success of the Montreal Protocol to serve as inspiration for the international community in addressing other issues of concern to us all.
As we celebrate this year’s International Ozone Day let us re-commit ourselves, along with Timor- Leste, to complete the task the original signatories set themselves in 1987, to completely phase out all ozone-depleting substances and protect the ozone layer.
For media queries contact:
Roopa Singh
Cell: 082 225 3076
E-mail: rsingh@deat.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs
16 September 2009
