India observes the 27th Global Ozone Day | Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
The Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey today said that India has successfully phased out production and consumption of several major Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and met all the obligations of the Montreal Protocol so far, by accessing technical and financial assistance from the financial mechanism of the Montreal Protocol.
The Minister was chairing an event organized to observe the 27th Global Ozone Day in New Delhi today.
Shri Chowbey said, one of the reasons for India’s success in phasing out of the Ozone Depleting Substances is the involvement of key stakeholders both at the planning as well as implementation levels. He said Industries, research institutions, line Ministries, consumers, etc. have been contributing significantly to the Ozone Depleting Substances phase-out program of the Montreal Protocol in India.
Referring to the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which was recently ratified by the Government of India, the Minister said, issues relating to minimizing industrial obsolescence and adverse economic impacts should appropriately be addressed while developing a Hydrofluorocarbon phase down strategy for implementing it.
World Ozone Day is celebrated on 16th September each year to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol, an international environmental treaty for phasing out of production and consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances, that came into force on this day in 1987. The Day is celebrated every year to spread awareness among people about the depletion of the Ozone Layer and the measures taken/ to be taken to preserve it. The Ozone Cell, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India has been celebrating World Ozone Day since 1995 at the National and State levels.
The theme of World Ozone Day 2021 is “Montreal Protocol – Keeping us, our food, and vaccines cool”.
MoS Shri Choubey released the Action Plan for implementing recommendations of the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) for the thematic Area Space Cooling in Buildings. The Action Plan has been developed after mapping the recommendations given in the ICAP and after detailed discussions with various stakeholders including line departments and Ministries.
The India cooling action plan (ICAP), the first of its kind in the world to be developed by the MoEF&CC, addresses cooling requirements across sectors and lists out actions that can help reduce the cooling demand through synergies in actions for securing both environmental and socio-economic benefits. The ICAP aims to reduce both direct and indirect emissions.
The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
Background
India’s achievements in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol
India, as Party to the Montreal Protocol since June 1992, has been successfully implementing the Montreal Protocol and its ozone-depleting substances phase-out projects and activities in line with the phase-out schedule of the Protocol. India has phased out Chlorofluorocarbons, Carbon tetrachloride, Halons, Methyl Bromide, and Methyl Chloroform for controlled uses in line with the Montreal Protocol. Currently, Hydrochlorofluorocarbons are being phased out as per the accelerated schedule of the Montreal Protocol. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage-I has been successfully implemented from 2012 to 2016 and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage-II is currently under implementation from 2017 and will be completed by 2023.
During the ongoing HCFC phase-out Implementation, as a part of the long-term vision, India has consciously chosen a path for environment-friendly and energy-efficient technologies India, as one of the first amongst developing countries, has been able to achieve the complete phase-out of HCFC 141b, one of most potent ozone-depleting chemicals used as a blowing agent in the manufacturing of rigid foam.
Preparation of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage-III will be commenced shortly, which shall address phase out of the use of HCFC-22, a refrigerant used in Refrigeration and Air-conditioning manufacturing and the servicing sectors.
Adequate attention has also been given to synergize the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning servicing sector training under the Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) with the Skill India Mission of the Government of India, to multiply the impact of skilling and training. The skilling and certification of service technicians will not only have significant environmental benefits but also have a positive influence on their livelihoods.
The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, finalized by the Parties during 2016, shall gradually reduce the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), introduced as a non-ozone-depleting alternative to Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which have high global warming potential ranging from 12 to 14000.
The government of India has recently decided to Ratify the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, once again demonstrating to the global community, India’s commitment towards the protection of climate and the environment. The Ministry will be working towards developing a National strategy for phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons, after required consultation with all the industry stakeholders. Implementation of Hydrofluorocarbons phase-down under the Kigali Amendment through the adoption of low-global warming potential and energy-efficient technologies will achieve energy efficiency gains and carbon dioxide emissions reduction – a “climate co-benefit.” In addition, synergies with ongoing government programs and schemes of the Government of India will be promoted with the objective to maximize the economic and social co-benefits, besides environmental gains.
Energy efficiency is a major driver for technology choice under the Kigali Amendment. India has been actively pursuing in the Montreal protocol meetings to incentivize energy efficiency in the use of new refrigerants and technology under the Hydrofluorocarbons phase down. There is a need to build facilitative frameworks, strengthen institutional capacity, and design effective implementation models to move towards enhancing the energy efficiency of equipment while lowering the global warming potential of refrigerants.
The initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) to develop an India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), the first of its kind in the world, is to look for synergies in actions having the potential to provide socio-economic and environmental benefits related to reduced refrigerant use, climate change mitigation and Sustainable Development Goals. The India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) recommends synergies with ongoing government programs and schemes such as housing for all, the Smart Cities Mission, Doubling Farmers Income, and Skill India Mission, to maximize socio-economic co-benefits. The Ministry has taken steps to operationalize the recommendations given in India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) along with concerned line Ministries and Government Organizations, Industry and think tanks, and Academia. Space cooling in buildings has been addressed on priority in the implementation of the recommendations and the Ministry has come out with action points relating to the implementation of the recommendations.
World Ozone Day reminds us that not only is ozone crucial for life on Earth but that we must continue to protect the ozone layer for future generations.