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25th Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and Second Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties 

27 June  - 1 July 2005, Montreal, Canada 

 

 

 

 Earth Negotiations Bulletin - ENB

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Mon 27

Tue 28

Wed 29

 

Thu 30

Fri 1

 

 

 

 

 

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Highlights for Monday, 27 June 2005


The Twenty-fifth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (OEWG-25) began on Monday morning. Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat, Marco Gonzalez, made an opening statement and paid tribute to Manfred Schneider, Austria, who passed away in the December 2004 tsunami disaster.  The agenda was adopted with minor additions. Delegates then took up issues arising out of the 2005 progress report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP). In the afternoon, delegates resumed their consideration of TEAP-related matters and Modou Diagne Fada, Minister of Environment and Protection of Nature, Senegal, updated delegates on preparations for MOP-17 in Dakar, Senegal. 
Above photo: Delegates held a minute of silence for Manfred Schneider, Austria.

 

OPENING PLENARY: 

 

The Twenty-fifth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (OEWG-25) began today in Montreal, Canada. Marco González, Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat, noted that the approaching success of developed countries in phasing out the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) provides an example for how Parties may phase out methyl bromide. He urged Parties that have not yet ratified the amendments to the Protocol to do so and noted the importance of the outcome of discussions on the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol.


Above photos L-R: Above photos L-R: OWEG-25 Co-Chairs David Okioga, (Kenya) and Thomas Land (US), and Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat, Marco González

 

 


Above photos: Paul Krajnik (Austria), made a brief statement about Manfred Schneider and participants had a minute of silence in plenary in his honor. 


Issues arising out of the 2005 Technology and Economic Assessment Panel progress report (TEAP):


ESSENTIAL USE NOMINATIONS: Ashley Woodcock, Medical Technical Options Committee (MTOC) Co-Chair, discussed essential-use nominations, noting the need for updated information in 2006 before considering nominations for 2007. On 2006 nominations, he reported on the basis of the revised quantities recommended for Russia and the US. MTOC Co-Chair, José Pons, stressed that essential uses should only be allowed when pre-1996 stocks of appropriate quality and quantity are unavailable .

The EC highlighted a discrepancy in TEAP recommendations for CFC MDIs and CFC-free MDIs. The US emphasized the need for a decision by the Parties during MOP-17 on 2007 essential-use exemptions.

Colombia expressed concern over the lack of technical and financial resources for destroying stockpiles and suggested that TEAP analyze the cost of destruction. Switzerland underscored the importance of following the development of emerging technologies. He, with Nigeria, recommended coordination amongst conventions and protocols dealing with persistent organic pollutants and destruction technologies.

 


Above photo L-R: The dais of TEAP members with Ashley Woodcock, José Pons, Lambert Kuijpers, Ian Porter, Radhey Agarwal and Michelle Marcotte

 

 


Above photo L-R: Tom Batchelor (EC), John Thompson (US) and Javier Camargo (Colombia)

 

 

TEAP MEMBERS: 


Above photos L-R: Ashley Woodcock, Jose Pons, Miguel Quintero, and Dave Catchpole

 

 

 

 

FOAMS: Miguel Quintero, Foams Technical Options Committee (FTOC) Co-Chair noted the focus on end-of-life issues, progress in CFC-11 phaseout, and the vulnerability of the foam industry to HFC shortages. Presenting TEAP's Foams End-of-Life Taskforce Report, Paul Ashford, Co-Chair of the Taskforce, highlighted that: the potential of recovery from appliances has been demonstrated; there is insufficient experience with building foam; a better understanding of landfills is needed; and, the combined benefits of reducing greenhouse gas and ODS emissions is not currently reflected in either the Montreal or Kyoto Protocols.

 

 

 

 


Above photos L-R: Ian Porter, Michelle Marcotte, Radhey Agarwal and Lambert Kuijpers

 

 

 

 

HALONS: The Halons Technical Options Committee (HTOC) interim Co-Chair David Catchpole discussed the need to update HTOC models for predicting supplies, the difficulty of managing recycling equipment in Article 5 countries, contaminated halons, and progress on Decision XV/11.

METHYL BROMIDE: The Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee (MBTOC) Convenor Ian Porter reported on progress towards more balanced MBTOC membership, new formulations and methods for use in pre-plant soil use, regulatory and other restrictions affecting use of alternatives, and MBTOC’s meta-analyses of research on five crops. Michelle Marcotte, MBTOC Convenor, discussed recapture technology, the reduction of methyl bromide emissions, expansion of the Handbook on Critical Use Nominations for Methyl Bromide and the lack of registered methyl bromide alternatives.

 

 

 

 


Above photos L-R: Ian Rae, Masaaki Yamabe, Paul Ashford and José Pons (center) answering questions from participants.

 

 

 

 

REFRIGERATION: On behalf of the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps Technical Options Committee (RTOC), Lambert Kuijpers, highlighted the increased use of indirect refrigeration systems using heat transfer fluids in secondary loop delivery systems, and said that manufacturers and suppliers are reducing system leakage and improving energy efficiency of mobile air conditioning units in vehicles.

PROCESS AGENTS: Ian Rae, Chemicals Technical Options Committee (CTOC), reaffirmed that the US nomination of CFC-113 satisfies the technical criteria as a process agent use. The US noted that the listing of process agents has allowed developing countries to access funding. Delegates then agreed to process agent requests from Israel and the UK.

AEROSOLS: On non-medical aerosol products, Masaki Yamabe, noted the lack of technical barriers to adoption of alternatives in this area.

TEAP MEMBERSHIP: Lambert Kuijpers, TEAP Co-Chair, reminded parties that co-chairs for CTOC, HTOC and MBTOC will be proposed again at MOP-17 and urged Parties to consider innovative ways of supporting non-Article 5 experts.

 

 

 

 

 


Above photos L-R: Lambert Kuijpers and Susan Solomon (IPCC);  IPCC/TEAP presentation on the satellite view of the ozone layer.

 

 

TEAP/IPCC REPORT: Susan Solomon (IPCC) and Lambert Kuijpers (TEAP) presented a draft joint assessment report prepared by the TEAP and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Commenting on the report, Senegal, opposed by the US, suggested a follow-up experts’ workshop, while New Zealand called for a policy workshop. Japan, with Argentina and opposed by the US and China, called for continuous cooperation with the Kyoto Protocol. The EC, with Argentina and New Zealand, called for a report on this topic at MOP-17. The US said this forum was not appropriate for some of the emissions reduction ideas discussed, as they are beyond the Montreal Protocol obligations, while New Zealand said this forum was the appropriate one.

Greenpeace International recommended that Parties: instruct the Multilateral Fund to stop funding HFC and HCFC projects where alternatives exits; accelerate HFC phaseout in the Montreal Protocol; and assist Article 5 countries phasing out HFCs and HCFCs, noting that these measures will help protect the climate. The Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy affirmed the long-term role of HFCs in replacing ODS.

 

 

 

 


Above photos L-R: Nik Kiddle (New Zealand), Mitsuhiko Shinomiya (Japan), Zhang Mengheng (China) and János Máté (Greenpeace)

 

 

 

Modou Diagne Fada, (right) Minister of Environment and Protection of Nature, Senegal, updated delegates on preparations for MOP-17 in Dakar, Senegal. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This service was prepared in cooperation with the Ozone Secretariat