Tag: Montreal Protocol

Australia’s reputation as a global leader in lifecycle refrigerant management (LRM) took centre stage at the United Nations Thirty-Sixth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (MOP) and the Thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention (COP) in Bangkok. Among the delegation was Ian Stangroome, a director of VASA and a board … Continue reading Montreal Protocol meeting highlights Australian refrigerant stewardship as envy of the world

Patrick Mclnerney, a significant figure in Australian environmental diplomacy and particularly the management of refrigerants, passed away less than two weeks before his 61st birthday. For years, Patrick was a stalwart presence at Montreal Protocol meetings, leading Australia’s delegation with his well-considered and balanced contributions to what remains the most effective and successful global environmental … Continue reading Vale Patrick Mclnerney

Australian federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek has announced a new bill intended to introduce “stronger measures to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and continue to play its part in helping heal the world’s ozone layer”. In addition to ozone-depleting substances, the legislation also manages synthetic greenhouse gases such as HFCs like … Continue reading Ozone laws updated as report finds ‘Black Summer’ bushfires damaged the ozone layer

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry (left) and China Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua

The United States and China have made a joint commitment of mutual cooperation to phase down HFCs under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, following meetings in Shanghai between US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and China Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua. Among the world’s largest producers and consumers of HFCs, the two … Continue reading US, China get serious on HFCs

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has reported that ozone layer depletion reached record levels over large parts of the Arctic in spring. Monitored ozone levels over the Arctic in March are typically at least 240 Dobson Units (DU) – with a DU representing a 0.01mm-thick layer of pure ozone at standard temperature and pressure (STP). … Continue reading Extreme weather, CFC damage result in record Arctic ozone depletion

New regulations and permit schemes in the works New Zealand environment minister David Parker has announced that the country will delay its ratification of the Kigali Amendment by 12 months. The year-long hiatus is to allow New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to carry out the required health and safety amendments before ratification … Continue reading NZ to ratify Kigali in late 2019

A staggering 32 executives from HVAC and refrigeration companies have written to US President Donald Trump and urged him to ratify the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The letter, which was copied to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, represented the views of companies such as Honeywell, Chemours, Dow Chemical, Ingersoll Rand, Arkema and Fujitsu … Continue reading US wavers on Kigali

Scenes from 37th Open-ended Working Group Meeting in Geneva Photos by IISD/Mike Muzurakis (www.iisd.ca/ozone/oewg37/4apr.html)

Talks start for real in Geneva after years of deadlock By Refrigerants Australia executive director Greg Picker, reporting from Switzerland Negotiations on an HFC phase-down began in Geneva in April this year.  These talks are noteworthy because for the first time since the proposal to phase down HFCs was suggested in 2009, there was agreement … Continue reading HFC phase-down hope

July 2015 Open-Ended Working Group (OWEG) of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol meeting in Paris

The July 2015 Open-Ended Working Group (OWEG) of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol meeting in Paris came agonisingly close to setting the mandate to commence negotiations for a global phase-down of HFCs like R134a under the Montreal Protocol. Proceedings were adjourned as time ran out in the French capital, meaning the talks are likely … Continue reading World edges closer to HFC phase-down