Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Nations unite on greenhouse gas

Phasing out HCFCs used in some sprays and appliances will help the ozone layer.

TORONTO - Governments of almost 200 countries have agreed to speed the elimination of a major greenhouse gas that depletes ozone, U.N. and Canadian officials said Saturday, describing a deal they said was a significant step toward fighting global warming.

The agreement reached Friday night will accelerate a treaty to freeze and phase out hydrochloroflurocarbons, commonly referred to as HCFCs, which are used in home appliances, some refrigerators, hair sprays and air conditioners, said Nick Nuttall, spokesman for the United Nations Environment Program.

The treaty known as the Montreal Protocol was originally established in 1987 to protect the ozone layer from destructive chemicals. It was negotiated by 191 countries to cut back on chemicals blamed for destroying the ozone layer.

The member nations, gathering in Montreal again 20 years later, agreed to freeze production and consumption of HCFCs in 2013.

Developed countries have agreed to reduce production and consumption by 75 percent by 2010 and by 90 percent by 2015 with final phase out in 2020 - 10 years sooner than the earlier agreement. Developing countries have agreed to cut production and consumption by 10 percent in 2015; by 35 percent by 2020; and by 67.5 percent by 2025 with a final phase-out in 2030.

In Washington, the White House said the agreement would cut in half the potential emissions of remaining chemicals harmful to the ozone.

"This action will not only speed up recovery of the ozone layer, but also represents one of the most significant new global actions to confront climate change by reducing the greenhouse gas profile of the phased-out substances," a White House statement said.

HCFCs emerged in the 1990s to phase out the older and more ozone-damaging chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) used in air conditioners, refrigerators and hair sprays.

U.N. climate experts said in a recent report that the atmosphere could be spared the equivalent of 1-billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions if countries used ammonia, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide or other ozone-friendly chemicals rather than HCFCs and HFCs in foams and refrigerants. Such alternatives are more common in Europe.

"Faster healing of the ozone layer will help prevent human health damages caused by excess UV radiation, including skin cancer," the White House said.

[Last modified September 23, 2007, 01:44:39]