INDIA & UNEP JOIN HANDS TO SAVE THE OZONE LAYER
A bold new initiative,
aimed at accelerating the phase out of ozone-damaging chemicals
across India, was launched here today jointly by the Indian Government
and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Under the
initiative, four big manufacturers of chloroflurocarbons (CFCs),
chemicals used in fridges, air conditioning units and aerosols
which have been found to damage the Earth’s protective shield
have voluntarily signed a pledge for introducing new, cleaner,
production technologies. These four major chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
producers in India, namely, Chemplast Sanmar Ltd., Gujarat Fluorochemicals
Ltd., Mafatlal Industries Ltd. and SRF Ltd., signed here today
a voluntary pledge reiterating their commitment to phase out Ozone
Depleting Substances.
Shri P.V. Jayakrishnan,
Secretary, Ministry for Environment and Forests, in his presidential
address mentioned about the initiatives taken by the Government
to facilitate the phase out of Ozone Depleting Substances. He
explained the importance given to Ozone Depleting Substances production
phase out and support to small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for
cost effective phase out.
Speaking on
the occasion, Mr. Klaus Toepfer, the Executive Director of UNEP,
said: "India, as the world’s second biggest manufacturer
of CFCs after China, has already made great strides in reducing
and phasing out these damaging substances whose production and
consumption harm the stratospheric ozone layer, the Earth’s shield
which filters out harmful levels of the sun’s ultra violet light".
In
1999 India was granted US$ 82 million to assist in the phase out
of the chemicals under the terms of Montreal Protocol, the international
treaty drawn up to cut the levels of ozone-depleting substances
entering the upper atmosphere. Production by the four companies
concerned is scheduled to reach zero in 2010 from a peak production
figure of 23, 659 tonnes at the end of the 1990s.
Voluntary
pledge initiative will spur on other developing countries to adopt
similar, ozone-friendly schemes.
