ENB @OEWG-22, 23-25 July 2002 Montreal,Canada

Web
Archive:
(Images and RealAudio)

Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
Twenty-second Meeting (OEWG-22)

Montreal, Canada | 23 - 25 July 2002

Highlights for Tuesday, 23 July 2002

Co-Chair Milton Catelin (Australia) opened the 22^nd meeting of the OEWG and introduced Marco Gonzalez as the new Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat. The Executive Secretary welcomed delegates to the meeting and said that while there are many reasons for Parties to feel proud of their work, there are also many challenges to face. Among them,

the Executive Secretary highlighted the need for compliance with the phaseout schedule for Article 5 counties, and for global participation in the ozone regime. Co-Chair Catelin introduced the provisional agenda (UNEP/OzL.Pro/WG.1/22/1). Particiapnts also heard presentations from the Scientific Assessment Panel (SAP), Environmental Effects Panel (EEP) and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP). Above photo L-R: Marco Gonzalez, Executive Secretary Ozone Secretariat and Co-chair Milton Catelin.

ASSESSMENT PANEL REPORTS:

Scientific Assessment Panel (SAP) Gerard Mégie, SAP Co-Chair, reviewed progress toward the SAP report forthcoming in Spring 2003. He noted the decrease of Ozone depleting substances (ODS) in the stratosphere, short-lived ODS, ozone in the arctic and in mid-latitudes, the interaction between climate change and ozone depletion, and surface UV radiation.

Environmental Effects Panel (EEP) Jan van der Leun, EEP Co-Chair, highlighted progress in finalizing the report on the interactive effects of ozone depletion and climate change. He highlighted preliminary findings from experiments on plants: increased CO2 levels compensate for negative impacts of UV radiation on plant growth; increased precipitation decreases plants' vulnerability to UV radiation; and increased UV radiation and CO2 levels decrease arctic plants' resistance to freezing.

Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP ):

*Process agents: Gary Taylor (Canada), Halon Technical Options Committee Co-Chair, said TEAP recommended 45 processes in four categories in the 2002 report. He announced that a forum would be convened next year on monitoring process agent emissions, best practices and not-in-kind alternatives. N-propyl bromide (nPB):* Taylor noted that TEAP found the nPB market has not developed significantly since 2001. However, he noted that some LVMs were planning to use nPB for dry cleaning and that long-term toxicity studies are ongoing.

*Aerosols TOC:* Ashley Woodcock, Co-Chair of the Aerosols TOC, said there are no technical barriers to eliminating CFC use in this sector, but that government intervention is required to effect a full phase out. Regarding use of CFC in MDIs for asthma, he said availability of alternatives is insufficient, note that the transition to ODS-free MDIs is largely industry driven, and stressed the importance of raising awareness among healthcare providers on the need for the transition.

*Foam TOC:* Paul Ashford, Foam TOC Co-Chair, noted that financial constraints of small and medium sized enterprises as well as differences in local circumstances necessitate tailored HCFC phase-out strategies. He noted technical progress in using hydrocarbons as blowing agents and in the transition to liquid HFCs, but remarked that proving the effectiveness of HCFCs in the field is an ongoing challenge. He said the phase out of HCFCs in developed countries makes their future supply to developing country markets uncertain.

*Methyl Bromide TOC:* Nahum Marban Mendoza, Methyl Bromide TOC Co-Chair, highlighted sulfuryl flouride and, 1,3-dichloropropene as potential alternatives to MB, but noted that the high cost of registering new chemicals continues to be a major impediment to deployment of such alternatives. He noted that the handbook on critical use nomination for methyl bromide is available on the web.

*Refrigeration TOC:* Lambert Kuijpers, TEAP Co-Chair, noted the importance of disposal of CFC refrigerators and progress in the phase out of CFCs and HFCs in commercial refrigeration, with growing reliance on hydrocarbons and other alternatives.

*TEAP Membership:* Noting that six of the 23 TEAP members will soon retire, Stephen Andersen, Panel Co-Chair, announced openings for a TEAP Co-Chair from the Latin American and Caribbean Region and for experts from a CEIT, Sub-Saharan Africa, China, Southeast Asia and Japan.

*Task Force on Collection, Recovery and Long-Term Storage (TFCRS):* The TFCRS looked at ODS use patterns, emissions, and inventories, and assessed the potential for management of surplus ODS according to two sectors: those with early emissions and those with delayed emissions.

*Task Force on Destruction Technologies (TFDT):* Lambert Kuijpers and Sukuma Devotta (right) reported the outcomes of the TFDT. Building on the 1992 and 1995 reports, the TFDT looked at disposal of contaminated stockpiles, cross-contaminated CFCs, Halons, confiscated compounded materials, and displaced ODS, and, after evaluating 45 technologies, recommended twelve. The TFDT found that the cost of destruction varied significantly depending on the type of ODS, distance to destruction facility, exchange rate, and preprocessing needs. The cost of on site destruction, however was estimated at between US$3-6 per kilogram.

US expressed concern over the suggested timeline for critical use exemption requests for methyl bromide (by end of 2003 for exemptions for 2005).

Burkina Faso said Parties submitting exemption requests should specify the production company and any intended exports for better monitoring.

Australia suggested the methyl bromide TOC also include information on stockpiles and reasoning behind exemption requests, especially when different requests are made for the same use in different countries. Left Photo: Tamara Curll (Australia) giving an intervention.

Tunisia noted drawbacks to using CO2 as an alternative to methyl bromide in date cultivation and asked for suggestions for alternatives.

Canada and Japan suggested that a standard nomination form for methyl bromide exemptions should be prepared for MOP-14. Right photo: Pierre Pinault (Canada)


FURTHER STUDY OF CFC CAMPAIGN PRODUCTION FOR MDIs: Co-Chair Catelin (right) recalled that the TEAP report recommended continued just-in-time production of CFCs for MDIs, but noted that final campaign production may be necessary at the end of the transition period.

The EC called on all non-Article 5 Parties to submit strategies for ensuring the transition to CFC-free MDIs. He supported using the existing essential use procedure, if campaign production becomes necessary. Left photo: Tom Batchelor (EC)

PHOTOS FROM THE RECEPTION: