Daily report for 13 December 2000

The high-level segment of MOP-12 began with a ceremony including remarks from dignitaries and cultural performances. Delegates elected the Bureau of MOP-12, received reports from the assessment panels and heard statements by implementing agencies and heads of delegations. In the afternoon, the preparatory segment reconvened briefly to address the proposed correction to the Beijing Adjustments, financial matters and cooperation between the Ozone and Multilateral Fund Secretariats.

HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT

OPENING CEREMONY: Fidle Hien, Minister of the Environment and Water of Burkina Faso, opened the high-level segment, underscoring his countrys commitment to the protection of the environment.

MOP-11 President Roberto Stadthagen-Vogl (Nicaragua) noted progress toward protecting the ozone layer during the last decade, but warned that much work remains. He noted that scientists recently announced that the hole in the ozone layer over the Southern Hemisphere has reached record size, equivalent to 100 times the area of Burkina Faso.

Klaus Töpfer, UNEP Executive Director, distributed awards to the national ozone units of Uruguay, Burkina Faso and Bahrain for their dedication and good work. He noted that the POPs convention had been completed in Johannesburg, South Africa, and announced that Rio +10 will also be held in Johannesburg. He underscored the linkages between environmental conventions and protocols, and commented on the good cooperation among UN bodies addressing atmospheric issues. He urged Parties to: meet reporting deadlines on ODS data; consider more effective border control of illegal trade in ODS and ODS-containing products; and take action against the export of second-hand equipment containing ODS to developing countries.

Zepherin Diabre, UNDP Assistant Administrator, highlighted the host country's efforts to reconcile the goals of human development with environmental protection, particularly through voluntary reforestation and irrigation projects. He suggested increasing funding for capacity building and technology transfer to support small enterprises use of ODS alternatives.

President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Campaor, welcomed participants and highlighted the synergies between desertification, climate change, biodiversity protection, poverty reduction, food security and improvement of livelihoods. He reaffirmed the African region's commitment to environmental protection, despite its lower levels of development. He called on wealthy nations to provide financing, knowledge transfer and appropriate technologies to developing countries.

SRI LANKA offered to host MOP-13. CHINA objected to the presence of TAIWAN at the welcoming ceremony.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Delegates elected Milton Catelin (Australia) as MOP-12 President, and Fidle Hien (Burkina Faso), Mario Rono (Philippines) and Jir Hlavacek (Czech Republic) as MOP-12 Vice Presidents. Roberto Stadthagen-Vogl (Nicaragua) was elected Rapporteur.

ASSESSMENT PANEL REPORTS: Scientific Assessment Panel (SAP): Peter Aucamp (South Africa) presented the findings of the SAP. He identified the need for funding to study the effects of hexachlorobutadiene and methyl bromide. He noted that the 2002 Scientific Assessment will address, inter alia: observed trends in ODS; ozone depleting potential (ODP) of new short-lived substances; methyl bromide; and linkages with climate change. He outlined the review process and noted efforts to ensure greater participation from developing countries.

Environmental Effects Panel: Jan Van Der Leun, Co-Chair of the Environmental Effects Panel, confirmed the information provided by Canada that hexachlorobutadiene is hazardous to the environment and that its ODP is uncertain. He also reported on the many interactions between climate change and ozone depletion.

Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP): Stephen Andersen, TEAP Co-Chair, reported on the work of TEAP and its technical options committees (TOCs) in 1999 and 2000. He noted that substantial progress has been made in developing alternatives to ODS, but that there are still some critical uses with no available alternatives.

David Okioga, Co-Chair of the methyl bromide TOC, noted that methyl bromide consumption and production has fallen in developed countries and in several developing countries, but has increased in Africa and Asia. He estimated that alternatives should be available for over 95% of uses and that emissions could be reduced by 30-90%.

Ashley Woodcock, Co-Chair of the aerosols TOC, reported that technical barriers to the transition to CFC-free MDIs are being overcome.

Lambert Kujipers, TEAP Co-Chair, reported that TEAP is supported by TOCs and task forces including more than 200 members from 46 countries, of which 35% come from CEITs or Article 5 countries.

Gary Taylor, Co-Chair of the halons task force, appealed to Parties to provide information to enable the process agents task force to prepare a report for 2001 in compliance with Decision X/ 14. He highlighted UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) role in providing an information clearing-house on halon recycling, which has allowed critical needs to be met without essential-use exemptions. He reported that UNEP DTIE is launching a business-to-business web portal (www.halontrader.org).

MULTILATERAL FUND REPORT: Executive Committee Co-Chair Heinrich Kraus presented the report of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund (UNEP/OzL.Pro.12/7, Corr.1 and Corr.2). He noted three meetings of the Committee since MOP-11 and outlined the report, which summarizes the Committee's business during the last year, including all decisions taken.

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY STATEMENTS: UNIDO stated its goal to catalyse awareness-raising on ozone issues in developing countries. He underscored UNIDOs commitment to assisting industry in phasing out ODS and outlined activities including technological advice and capacity building through training and skill development.

UNDP said its programmes cover 71 countries and that as of end-1999, UNDP had completed 625 projects and eliminated 15,000 tonnes of ODS. He identified areas where UNDP has made a positive contribution and reported that the UNDP is already moving towards the country-driven approach recommended by Parties.

UNEP reported on its activities to assist developing countries in complying with the Protocol, including through country-programme preparation, institutional strengthening, national ozone units, and training for monitoring and reducing ODS consumption. He highlighted the role of the OzonAction programme in this regard.

The World Bank noted that its projects promote capacity building to assist countries in reducing the costs of CFC phase out and to ensure long-term funding. He explained that countries where the Bank is developing projects would meet the Protocol targets and highlighted the closure and dismantling of all CFC production plants in the Russian Federation by 20 December 2000.

DELEGATION STATEMENTS: MALI said his country has ratified the London Amendment, and is in the process of ratifying the Copenhagen and Montreal Amendments. He said Mali is not a producer or exporter of ODS, and has very low consumption.

JAPAN urged Parties to make effective use of the limited resources available to ensure success of the Protocol.

BRAZIL noted that MOP-12 marks the first MOP after completion of the freeze period of some ODS by Article 5 Parties and said that the new "era" would be significantly different due to the approaching phase-out deadlines.

BANGLADESH outlined domestic measures to comply with the Montreal Protocol and said it expects to remain in full compliance. Stressing the urgency of providing finance, he listed projects submitted to the Multilateral Fund.

CHILE sought identification of countries and regions most vulnerable to the effects of ozone depletion and urged that they be granted special status for funding. He encouraged Parties to ratify the Beijing Amendment.

The CZECH REPUBLIC said its ratification of the Beijing Amendment will be official in January 2001. He listed domestic efforts including legislation tackling both climate change and ozone depletion.

The EC commented that, while the Montreal Protocol is often cited as the most successful multilateral environmental agreement, the ozone layer is still facing its greatest rate of depletion, which may be exacerbated by climate change. He called for the Protocol to be strengthened and for each country to meet its obligations and more.

FINLAND and ARGENTINA highlighted their joint "Ozone Day" initiative, held simultaneously in Argentina and Finland on 16 September 2000, and remarked that it increased public awareness that ozone depletion is problematic for all humans.

SRI LANKA described its plans to phase out CFCs by 2005, including: replacement and recovery programmes in the refrigeration sector; research on alternatives to methyl bromide; training programmes for customs officers; and an import and export licensing system.

INDIA noted that it has frozen the use of CFCs and implemented a licensing system to regulate ODS imports and exports. On remaining challenges, he pointed to, inter alia, refrigeration servicing, funding for phasing out carbon tetrachloride as a process agent and solvent, and the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises.

JORDAN said it has prepared a programme to phase out CFCs by 2004 and enacted regulations on ODS imports and exports. He highlighted the problem of illegal trade and the dumping of toxic waste.

KENYA reported on national environmental regulation, containing a licensing system to control the import and export of ODS.

The REPUBLIC OF KOREA, noting the slow recovery of the ozone layer, called on Parties to reinforce their commitment to capacity building and technology transfer.

RESUMED PREPARATORY SEGMENT

PROPOSED CORRECTION TO THE BEIJING ADJUSTMENTS: Patrick Szll (UK), Chair of the legal drafting group, introduced a proposed adjustment to the Montreal Protocol, aimed at correcting an "unintended error" that had "slipped into" the Beijing Adjustments. He noted that the methyl bromide production allowance granted to non-Article 5 Parties to meet the basic domestic needs of Article 5 Parties had been erroneously set at 15%, rather than the intended 10%. He invited the MOP to consider the need to adopt an adjustment at MOP-12, given that the correction would only be valid for 6 months and that non-Article 5 Parties were unlikely to exceed the intended 10% basic domestic needs production ceiling. The EC, supported by JAPAN and the US, suggested adopting a decision reflecting the intent of the correction, rather than a formal adjustment. Co-Chair Ashe invited the EC to circulate a draft decision.

FINANCIAL MATTERS: Co-Chair Ashe reopened discussion on a provision within the proposed draft decision on financial matters, requiring MOP host countries to pay only the costs additional to those budgeted for the meeting, rather than the actual difference in cost to that of holding the meeting in Nairobi. JAPAN proposed deleting the provision, claiming that it conflicts with UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 40/243 requiring the host government of meetings held away from headquarters to defray the additional costs involved.

Former Executive Secretary Sarma noted that Parties could decide to subsidize particular meetings. The UK said the MOP is not legally-bound by UNGA Resolution 40/243, as it is not a UN body. JAPAN responded that, since the Trust Fund is administered by a UN entity, its management should be in accordance with UN financial rules. Co-Chair Ashe noted that the Secretariat would manage the Trust Fund in an appropriate manner and the decision was approved without the provision.

ORGANIZATION OF OZONE SECRETARIAT AND MULTILATERAL FUND MEETINGS: Parties agreed to the draft decision proposed by the US and co-sponsored by JAPAN (UNEP/OzL.Pro.12/CRP 10), which establishes that, when the Ozone Secretariat and the Multilateral Fund Secretariat organize meetings back-to-back, both secretariats should coordinate arrangements and seek, where appropriate, to negotiate joint agreements with the host government.

THE USE OF HCFCs IN ARTICLE 5 PARTIES: The EC announced the release of a revised draft decision on the use of HCFCs in Article 5 Parties (UNEP/Ozl.Pro.12/CRP.6/Rev.2) to be discussed at OWEG-21.

IN THE CORRIDORS

With almost all its business completed, many participants suggested that MOP-12 is now unlikely to produce any surprises. With one exception. There were rumors that a draft "Ougadougou Declaration" is in the pipeline.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

PLENARY: Delegates will meet at 10:00 am to continue the high-level segment and hear speeches from heads of delegations. Delegates will also complete outstanding work, formally adopt decisions, and review and adopt the draft report of MOP-12.