Final Report(2).Pdf

ENVIS Centre Team Dr. G. Areendran Coordinator, ENVIS Centre, WWF-India Shri Anand A. Jha Coordinator-CMS ENVIS Mr. Rajeev Kumar Senior Programme Officer, ENVIS Centre, WWF-India Ms. Sandhya Farswan Information Officer, JNU, ENVIS Ms. Preeti Kashyap Information Officer, CMS, ENVIS Mr. Vikee Kumar Information Officer, Sulabh, ENVIS Data Source: This report has been prepared on the basis of the questions/answers & statement published by Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Secretariat during the period from 2000-2017 (information as on 17th July, 2017) Disclaimer: The ENVIS Centres shall not be responsible for any error, omissions arising from the information provided in this publication. 1 | Page TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 3 Issues discussed in Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha: 1. Montreal Protocol 5 2. Ozone Build Up 7 3. Ozone Layer Hole 7 4. Depletion in Ozone Layer in Antarctica Region 7 5. Research Station in Antarctica 9 6. Effects of Ozone Depleting Substance 10 7. Funds for Ozone Depleting Substances 11 8. Ground Level Ozone 11 9. Ozone Pollution 13 10. Measures to Check Depletion of Ozone Layer 15 11. Smuggling of Ozone Depleting Substances 15 12. Study on Changes in Ozone Layer 15 13. Ozone Pack for Primary School 16 14. Phasing out Fluorinated Chemicals 16 15. World Bank Aid for Pollution Free Environment 17 16. PIB Highlights on Ozone Layer in India-(Information as on 16th September, 2017)19 17. Photo Gallery of the Event 22 2 | Page Introduction Ozone is produced in the upper atmosphere – stratosphere (10 - 50 km above surface) by incoming ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation causes O2 to go to O + O. Some of the O then recombines with O2 to make O3. This ozone then absorbs more ultraviolet radiation and breaks down to O2 + O. This O can then can recombine with O2 to make more Ozone. The process is self-regulating and results in less ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Ultraviolet radiation is harmful to organisms because it is high energy radiation that damages cells. In humans, excessive exposure to ultraviolet light causes sunburns and skin cancer. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are produced to make refrigerants and styrofoam. Chlorine from these human made products enters the atmosphere and catalyzes the breakdown of ozone. It is estimated that for every Cl molecule in atmosphere, 100,000 ozone molecules can be destroyed. It has been observed that the protecting ozone layer in the upper atmosphere has deteriorated over the last 50 years, a result thought to be produced by human introduction of CFCs into the atmosphere. Fortunately, we have seen some progress in solving this problem. In 1987 an international treaty, the Montreal Protocol, agreed to reduce CFCs and other sources of Chlorine released into the atmosphere with the goal of restoring the ozone layer to its pre 1960 values by 2050. So far the results have been encouraging as the pattern of ozone depletion seems to have bottomed out. A number of research institutions and individual scientists both from within the country and non-resident Indian scientists have made contributions towards the phase out ODSs and recovery of Ozone layer. Indian industry has played a key role in phasing-out the production and consumption of major ODSs like Chloroflurocarbons (CFCs), Carbontetrachloride (CTC) and Halons. The negotiations at Kigali was chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in November 2016 for ex-post facto approval to the negotiating position adopted by the Government of India at the recent Meeting of Parties (MoP) to the Montreal Protocol of the Vienna Convention for Protection of Ozone Layer that took place during 6-14 October, 2016, in Kigali, Rwanda. The Kigali negotiation were aimed at including Hydrofluoro Carbons (HFCs) in the list of chemicals under the Montreal Protocol with a view to regulate their production and consumption and phase them down over a period of time with financial assistance from the Multilateral Fund created under the Montreal Protocol. HFCs are not ozone depleting but global warming substance and if controlled, can contribute substantially to limiting the global temperature and advance actions for addressing climate change. It was agreed at Kigali that there would be two set of baselines or peak years for developing countries and India will have baseline years of 2024, 2025, 2026. This decision gives additional HCFC allowance of 65% that will be added to the Indian baseline consumption and production. The freeze year for India will be 2028, with a condition that there will be a technology review in 2024/2025 and, if the growth in the sectors using refrigerants is above certain agreed 3 | Page threshold, India can defer its freeze up to 2030. On the other hand, developed countries will reduce production and consumption of HFCs by 70% in 2029. As per the decisions taken in Kigali, India will complete its phase down in 4 steps from 2032 onwards with cumulative reduction of 10% in 2032, 20% in 2037, 30% in 2042 and 85% in 2047. On 23 May 2017 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with the UN Environment OzonAction’s Compliance Assistance Programme, organized an “Ozone2Climate” Technology Roadshow, post Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, on the sidelines of the South Asia National Ozone Officers Annual Network Meeting – 2017 in Agra. Roadshow was inaugurated by the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Ajay Narayan Jha. The Technology Roadshow was organized for the first time as part of the annual network meeting for Ozone Officers of South Asia. The Technology Roadshow showcased current refrigeration and air conditioning equipment designed to be more energy efficient, hence with a double benefit of saving money for consumers, and with a much lower impact on the environment. Over 200 refrigerant technicians, ozone officers, business representatives and government officials attended the Roadshow. On 16th September 2015 on the occasion of celebration of 21st International Day for the preservation of the Ozone layer, Shri Javadekar that Ozone layer is the protective blanket provided by Nature. The theme of the celebration is "30 Years of Healing the Ozone Together”. The theme is supported by the slogan “Ozone: All there is between you and UV”. 4 | Page Issues discussed in Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha Montreal Protocol The Montreal Protocol under Vienna Convention is responsible for protection of Ozone Layer. 191 countries have signed Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. The depletion of Ozone Layer is due to the manmade chemicals containing chlorine and bromine atoms under the extremely low temperature. These chemicals are used as refrigerants in air conditioning, blowing agents in foam industry, aerosol in fire extinguishers, solvents in different industries, and fumigants in agriculture and plant protection.The depletion of Ozone Layer is not caused by Carbon Dioxide (CO2) as CO2 is not Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS), but it is a Green House Gas responsible for global warming. The Ministry has notified on 19.07.2000 in the Gazette of India the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The above ODS Rules have been amended in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2014 to align with the phase-out schedule of the various ODSs as per the Montreal Protocol. The country has successfully met all the targets of phase out of ozone depleting substances. The world has phased out 97 percent of the ozone depleting substances. The successful achievements of targets under Montreal Protocol by all the signatory countries, the scientists have recorded and reported in June, 2016 an improvement in healing of ozone hole. India became a party to the Vienna Convention for Protection of the Ozone Layer on 19th June, 1991 and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer on 17- 09-1992. Further, India ratified the London Amendment on 17-09-1992 and Copenhagen Amendment, Montreal Amendment and Beijing Amendment on 03-03-2003. The Montreal Protocol controls the phase-out of production and consumption of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) only. Nitrous oxide is not a controlled substance under the Montreal Protocol. The 18th Meeting of Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances the Deplete the Ozone Layer was held from 30th October to 3rd November, 2006 at New Delhi where in representatives from 132 countries were present. The Meeting of Parties considered reports of Scientific Assessment Panel, Environmental Effects Assessment Panel and Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, and took thirty six decisions. The country program was prepared in 1993 to phase-out the ODSs and India has taken the following measures:- • The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 have been notified on 19-07-2000. 5 | Page • Fiscal incentives extended by way of exemption from payment of Customs and Excise Duties for goods required for non-ODS technology. • Awareness Campaigns have been carried out. • The Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund (MLF) for implementation of the Montreal Protocol had approved 299 projects involving funding of about Rs. 1200 crores for phasing out 47085 Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) tons in production and consumption sectors of the ODSs. As per the control schedule of the Montreal Protocol, the production and consumption of CFCs, halons and CTC are to be phased out by 2010. The production and consumption of methyl chloroform and methyl bromide are to be phased out by 2015 and production and consumption of HCFCs are to be phased out by 2030. So far, India has met all its commitments as per the Montreal Protocol schedule in phasing out of ODSs. The Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund (MLF) for implementation of Montreal Protocol had approved 296 projects involving funding of about Rs.1000 crores for phasing out 12405 Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) tons in consumption and 33683 ODP tons in production sectors of the ODSs.

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