ENVIRONMENT: Strides against Methyl Bromide at Ozone Layer Meet

By Estrella Gutiérrez Reprint | | Print |

Estrella Gutierrez

CARACAS, Sep 26 1997 (IPS) - The ninth meeting of the parties of the Montreal Protocol on protection of the ozone layer made important progress towards the restriction of methyl bromide, according to the coordinator of negotiations on the heated issue.

Eduardo Lopez from Venezuela coordinated the negotations on reducing the phase-out period for the production of methyl bromide at the meeting held in Montreal, Canada, where thhering. Canada also hosted a ministerial-level meeting to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Protocol, w prizes awarded to nations and personalities involved in outstanding efforts against ozone-depleting substances.

Negotiators finally agreed that methyl bromide should be eliminated by the North in the year 2005, rather United States.

Although environmentalists termed the compro meeting in Vienna.

While the U.S. proposal included a single tichemicals due because they are extremely stable. They float in he protective ozone layer.

The less harmful HCFCs replaced CFCs, which e average 1995-97 levels.

Speaking with IPS in Montreal, environmentalyl bromide 0.6 percent, compared to the 0.015 percent of HCFCs.

Lopez pointed to an economic and comte capable of fulfilling the multiple applications of methyl bromide.

That chemical is mainly used Lopez. But Washington is especially wary of finding itself at a disadvantage with respect to the EU, the bloc that stands to gore an effective substitute is found.

The most vocal opponents to the proposal to res one of the biggest consumers of methyl bromide – on which the Mexicasition can be explained by its annual consumption of 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes of the substance – was joined by Kenya, in spite of that country’s low consumpt was reached with countries of the South accepting the obligation to make a “significant, not symbolic” curtailment of methyl bromide, and the industrial.

With respect to HCFCs, used in the production bstitute was found.

He explained that major investments ical Organisation presented a report demonstrating that damage to the ozone layer protecting the earth from dangerous ultra-violet rays has been contained, and that if the Protocol is complied with, the problem should begin to be turned around in the year 2000.

Emissionmost lethal ultra-violet rays.

Lopez presides over Venezuela’s Industrial De- depleting substances in the country.

Fondoits have been applied in countries as distant as China and the Philippines, as well as Argentina, /97)