STAFF REPORT ISB: Pakistan is fully committed towards global efforts for the conservation of environment and has successfully met 2010 targets through the phasing out of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) as set by the Montreal Protocol with aim to reinforce the initiatives being taken for the preservation of the Ozone Layer.
Further, the 2015 targets as set for phase-out of Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) accelerated programme is being met through the implementation of five projects in residential and commercial refrigeration sector. The HCFCs having higher Global Warming Potential (GWP) were replaced with natural substances having very low GWP to preserve not only ozone layer but also reduce their impact on climate change.
National Project Manager, National Ozone Unit, Zaigham Abbas, said this while addressing the seminar on International Ozone Day for the preservation of Ozone Layer held recently in Islamabad. The theme of this International Ozone Day was “Ozone Layer Protection: The Mission Goes On”.
Abbas expressed the hope that recommendations of the seminar would further improve the preparation of HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) to ensure the provision of durable ozone and environment friendly alternatives of HCFC.
The seminar was organized by the National Ozone Unit, Climate Change Division, in collaboration with the UNIDO, UNEP, UNDP and national stakeholders.
The objective of the seminar was to advise the stakeholders regarding the progress on the implementation of stage-I projects including Dawlance, Karachi, URIL, Hyderabad, Haier, Lahore, Varioline Intercool, Lahore and Shadman, Karachi.
National and international- partners have shown immense interest and participated in the interactive sessions of the seminar with aim to develop collaborative mechanism for the phasing out of HCFCs in manufacturing as well as servicing sector by adopting climate friendly technologies.
Abbas also said that the Pakistani government has already converted its industry in the foam, refrigeration, metal cleaning and fire fighting sectors from ODS-based technology into Ozone friendly technology through the implementing agencies like UNIDO, UNEP, UNDP and World Bank.
He said that the global community especially the developing countries are now facing the challenge of the phase-out of HCFC. Although this ODS has low Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP), yet it possesses high Global Warming Potential (GWP) and also high atmospheric life.
Zaigham Abbas called upon all national and international key players to intensify HCFC phase out activities with a view to achieving the accelerated HCFC phase out targets within timeframe. He said that we should follow the “Country Driven” approach for HCFC phase out reflecting strong commitment of the country and the government in terms of formulating relevant policies, legislation, institutional capacity building, training and awareness activities as well as undertaking technology conversions to environment friendly ones.
In his well come address, the NMP apprised that National Ozone Unit, Climate Change Division, Government of Pakistan has played a remarkable role with the cooperation of national and international partners for replacing the use of first generation of ODS and has already phased out 100 per cent consumption of these ODS.
The seminar was also addressed by Essam Alqararah, UNIDO, Country Director, and Usman Manzoor, UNDP Representative, who shared information and experience with Pakistani HCFC industry, importers and all other relevant national stakeholders for formulating a viable strategy for the phase-out of HCFC in the residential and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning sectors.
Iqbal P. Sheikh, Consultant to UNIDO, updated the progress on the implementation of stage-I projects confirming that 4 out of the 5 projects have been implemented and are in commercial production using Cyclopentane technology. Final certification to the two projects has been issued while the certification to the remaining is in progress.
At the end of the International Ozone Day activities the Ozone Award was awarded to each of the project company who converted their HCFC technology into Ozone friendly technology.