E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, JUN 05 - The process of ratifying the Montreal Amendment (1997), a global effort to protect the ozone layer, has failed to gain momentum, thanks to the political instability and the factors concomitant with it.

Nepal is the only country in Asia that has not ratified the amended protocol yet.

The Montreal Protocol came into effect in 1987 as the first international effort to protect the ozone that includes the phase out of chemicals, (CFCs, greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and air-conditioning) by temporarily replacing with another chemical named HCFCs (hydro chlorofluorocarbon). The ozone layer filters out harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun protecting the life on earth. Nepal was one of 188 countries to sign the protocol in 1994. Nepal falls in the category of 'Article 5 countries' with less than 0.3 kg per-capita consumption of CFC per year. It is mandatory for the countries under this category to declare themselves CFC-free by 2010.

However, the scientists discovered that HCFC is 2,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a green house gas and stressed the need to phase out HCFCs used in refrigeration and air-conditioning in the developing countries. To comply with the decision to phase out harmful chemicals in the developing countries, Montreal Amendment came into effect in 1997

Babu Kaji Baniya, under-secretary at the Ministry of Environment, said the ministry forwarded the amended draft and other essential documents to the parliament for final approval two months ago. "However, the government has failed to prioritise the ratification process due to the existing political impasse," he said.

He said that though the ratification process of Montreal Amendment has not taken pace, the country is committed to banning the import and use of HCFCs. It may be noted that Nepal was awarded 'The Montreal Protocol Implementers Award' for the year 2007 for its extraordinary contribution to the implementation of Montreal Protocol and global efforts to protect the ozone layer.

Ozone layer depletion, one of the serious environmental issues, has increased the incidence of skin diseases, cancer and cataracts. According to experts, the continued emission of harmful refrigerants and air-conditioning gases is also a major factor behind climate change.

 

Posted on: 2011-06-05 08:45

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