FG commits to ozone depleting substance phase-out

Towards implementing the Montreal Protocol’s programme, the Federal Government has achieved its target to phase-out the use of Halons, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) Methyl Bromide and Carbon Tetrachloride, which are Ozone-depleting substances in sectors of the economy.
 
The Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar who revealed this feat at Kigali Cooling Efficiency Programme project on Air Conditioning Cooling Sector in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

He also reiterated the commitment of the government to phase-out the use of Hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), an Ozone-Depleting Substance currently used as a refrigerant in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector and also as a blowing agent in the polyurethane foam sector.

“The same vigour was used in the implementation of the HCFC Phase-out programme will be used in the phase-down of high Global Warming Potential, Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), in line with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.”

His words: the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Programme’s (KCEP) project on the improvement of energy efficiency in the cooling sector will be consolidated to develop the National Cooling Plan Strategy that will be backed by policies and regulations to be enforced by relevant MDAs.

Dr. Abubakar, therefore, emphasized that refrigeration and air conditioning appliances are critical for comfort and cornerstone of modern life, food safety, economy and access to safe medicine but warned that these appliances are also big contributors to global warming.
   
“Researches have shown that the number of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment worldwide is expected to quadruple to 14 billion by 2050 with emission projection of approximately 8.97 gigatons Carbon dioxide equivalent, therefore, leaving the cooling sector unregulated will cause Greenhouse gas emission to skyrocket.”

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Bakari Wadinga, said that cooling is essential to human health and prosperity and is becoming more important as the world urbanises.

Dr. Wadinga stressed that the current cooling technologies such as refrigeration and air conditioning rely on human-made gases that are either ozone-depleting substances or high global warming potential gases, mainly (HFCs) that are almost 10,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide in causing global warming.
 
The Resident Representative of the United Nation Development Programme, Mohamed Yahya implementing global environmental treaties, especially the Montreal Protocol on the phase-out the substances.