UNEP DTIE OzonAction Branch tri-annual publication

SPECIAL FOCUS ON AFRICASPECIAL FOCUS ON AFRICA

Number 51 • December 2005

UNEPOzonAction A newsletter dedicated to the protection of the ozone layer and implementation of the Montreal Protocol ISSN-1020-1602

This newsletter is available online at:www.unep.fr/ozonactionOzonAction, a tri-annual publication, is available in Arabic,Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.The contents of this newsletter are provided for informationand do not necessarily represent the policy of UNEP.

Review Board: Dr S.Andersen, Mrs M. Barbut,Dr N. Campbell, Dr S. Carvalho, Mr M. Gonzalez, H.E.T. Inomata,Mrs I. Kökeritz, Dr L. Kuijpers, Mr Liu Yi, Mr G. Nardini,Mrs. M. Nolan, Mr K. M. Sarma, Mr R. Shende, Mr D. Stirpe Editor: Ms Catriona ChildPublication Manager: Ms Anne FennerInformation Manager: Mr Jim CurlinInformation Assistant: Ms Barbara Huber

Please send comments and material for publicationto Mr Rajendra Shende, Head, OzonAction Branch,at the address below:

United Nations Environment ProgrammeDIVISION OF TECHNOLOGY,INDUSTRY AND ECONOMICS (UNEP DTIE)OzonAction BranchTour Mirabeau 39–43, Quai André Citroën,75739 Paris, Cedex 15, France

Tel: +33 1 44 37 14 50 Fax: +33 1 44 37 14 74Email: ozonaction@unep.frwww.unep.fr/ozonaction

This publication is printed on Cyclus paper. Design and productionby Typhon, Chavanod, France, Tel: +33 4 50 10 00 00,Fax: +33 4 50 69 40 51, email: typhon@typhon.fr

CONTENTS

How do you turn a customs officergreen? UNEP and its partners in theGreen Customs Initiative take on thechallenge! Customs Officers, alreadyoverworked, face the challenge of enfor-cing Multilateral EnvironmentalAgreements (MEAs).

The Green Customs Initiative works bypromoting effective exchanges betweenthe environmental and enforcementcommunities. In November, the last offive Green Customs pilot workshops washeld in Tanzania for the East Africanregion. Awareness raising and introductorytraining plus working groups, practicalexercises and bilateral consultationswere on the agenda. Earlier in the year,workshops were organised in Syria (for West Asia), Trinidad and Tobago (for English-speaking Caribbean),Georgia (Caucasus) and Bhutan (South and Southeast Asia).

MEA Secretariats (Ozone, CITES, Basel,Rotterdam, Stockholm), UNEP Divisions(DTIE, DEC, DEPI) and regional offices,and organisations such as the WorldCustoms Organisation (WCO) andInterpol, as well as regional and natio-nal stakeholders, have jointly worked ona concise ‘Green Customs TrainingGuide’ which forms the basis of discus-sions in the Green Customs workshops.The concept is that capacity built at theregional level can be harnessed to com-bat illegal environmental trade. Keyplayers at the regional level includeRegional Intelligence Liaison Offices(RILOs), under the umbrella of the WCO.NGOs with expertise in combating ille-gal trade (particularly of ODS), such asthe Environmental Investigation Agency,are also invited to share their skills withworkshop participants.

And it’s not all about prevention of ille-gal trade; the complementary objectiveis facilitation of legal trade in environ-mentally-sensitive items.

The Green Customs Initiative has forgedstrong links and gained recognition bythe countries and partners. Although thetraining does not replace specific cus-toms training on each of the MEAs, itputs these agreements on the customsagenda and adds environmental modu-les to the national curricula.

The success of the first phase of GreenCustoms has attracted potential part-ners beyond the environmental field. TheOrganisation for the Prohibition ofChemical Weapons, for example, hasactively participated and contributedfinancially to four of the five GreenCustoms workshops this year. Also, thelink between environmental security andother security issues such as drug traffic-king has been highlighted during theworkshops.

The Green Customs Initiative is anexample of how to share the successfulozone experience with other environ-mental fields using funds in addition totraditional sources of finances for theMontreal Protocol (Norway, Finland andthe Czech Republic have been the mainbilateral donors for this project so far.)Work continues on developing innovati-ve training materials and modules, com-pleting the training guide and transla-ting it, and addressing the needs ofother key stakeholders, such as prosecu-tors. With Green Customs, the enforce-ment chain can only get greener!Contact: Etienne Gonin, UNEP DTIE,email: egonin@unep.fr, www.greencustoms.org

CUSTOMS TAKE THE GREEN CHANNEL

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Participants of Arusha meeting

Scarlet Ibis is the symbol of Trinidad and Tobago

Customs take the Green Channel 2

ViewPoint 3

Compliance News 4

Special Feature: All-Over Africa 6

Where were you on Ozone Day? 8

Spotlight on Bhutan 10

Agency News 11

New Publications 12

Venezuela: Ozone Layer Protected under Constitution 12

Progress in Ratification 12

Forthcoming Meetings 12

We regret to announce that our editor Robert Lamb has passed away.

He really was the master of titles.UNEP DTIE will deeply miss him.

VIEWPOINT

3

AFRICA: REACHING THEUNREACHED GOALS

The ozone layer, which protects life on earth,must be preserved for our own and futuregenerations. At the dawn of the 21st century,the international community is focusing onthe highly sensitive problem of survival on ourplanet and this has become a fundamentalpart of the measures being deployed in thefight against poverty and a major challengefor those of us who live in developing coun-tries.

The 7th Conference of the Parties to theVienna Convention and the 17th Meeting ofthe Parties to the Montreal Protocol will beheld in Dakar, Senegal, 12-16 December2005. Senegal is proud that, on African soil,the replenishment of the Multilateral Fund,the most successful global fund for the singlemost global environmental issue, will be deci-ded here in Dakar.

Within the African arena, I have always sup-ported the fight for the environment and amnow taking it forward through the new part-nership approach to development. I refer par-ticularly to NEPAD, in which Senegal hasplayed an instrumental role in coordinatingthe environmental component. Thanks to the

support of UNEP, we are seeing ever moremeaningful achievements in terms of concreteproject implementation.

As an expression of the importance Senegalplaces on environmental concerns, the countryhas invested in a far-reaching informationcampaign directed at national, regional andinternational communities, with the aim ofpromoting public awareness of positive resultsfrom environmental action programmes.

Since the 1990s, our country has adopted astrategy of adapting to new technologies forthe reduction and elimination of ozone-deple-ting substances (ODS). This clear commitmentwas endorsed by the conferral of a UNEPaward for the best Ozone Bureau, a sign ofinternational recognition that encourages usand prompts us to spare no effort as weendeavour to reach the target objectives –namely, the elimination of all ODS use indeveloping countries between now and 2010.

Here I would like to acknowledge the impor-tance of capacity and technology support fromUNEP’s OzonAction Programme in helpingsmall countries like Senegal meet compliancechallenges.

I am convinced that the Dakar meeting willfacilitate the integration of Southern-hemi-sphere nations’ fundamental concerns intodecisions affecting the struggle toward deve-lopment. It is our hope that the ViennaConvention and the Montreal Protocol will beof concern not only to Northern-hemispherenations but also to those of the South, andthat the latter will embrace these measuresand act as full participants in the search forsolutions to the economic, social and ecologi-cal consequences of ozone-layer depletion.

I reiterate my commitment to supporting theresolutions that will result from this importantmeeting: Senegal will not spare any effort tocomply with the decisions taken.

Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal, describes the roleplayed by his country in promoting environmental issues

and looks forward to the global conference on ozone to be held in the Senegalese capital.

Ways of Working TogetherIn one of many examples of valuable cooperation across the region,Iran gave an identifier to Afghanistan as part of their assistance toa new Party and India provided two identifiers to Bhutan. This waspart of the South-South Corporation and UNEP’s approach to ex-pedite assistance for new Parties. In Thailand, the Customs Depart-ment has recently reported 46 ODS seizures to Customs Enforce-ment Network of Regional Intelligence Liaison Office Asia and Pacific– an important contribution to the fight against ODS smug-

gling in the region. NOUs in the region have agreed on an informalPrior Informed Consent mechanism for ODS trade. When issuingimport/export licenses, the NOUs will informally consult the list ofregistered importers/exporters and inform the corresponding NOU.The exporting countries will ensure that the export licenses wouldnot be issued in excess of limits set by the importing countries.Contact: Atul Bagai, UNEP ROAP,email: bagai@un.org

Bangladesh: Jute firm gets the right treatmentNew international standards and a methyl bromide ban posed aproblem for New Dacca Mills, Bangladesh’s biggest jute exporter.Jute yarn is shipped on wooden palettes and FAO regulation ISPM15 states wooden packaging used for export must be treated onlywith methyl bromide or heat. But methyl bromide is banned inBangladesh under the Montreal Protocol and the company had noexperience of heat treatment. When the firm was heavily fined,after a shipment to Canada failed to clear quarantine for ISPM,the situation became critical. Determined to remain competitive,

company experts tried immersing the wood for 24 hours in waterat 100 degrees. It worked; Dacca Mills’ next Canadian shipmentpassed quarantine easily and a shipment to the USA was also successful. Absence of methyl bromide threatened the company’soperations but through tenacity they developed the alternative accepted by ISPM and made it work.Contact: Cecilia Mercado, UNEP ROAP,email: mercadoc@un.org,Humayun Kabir, Jute Division BEXIMCO, email: bexijute@bangia.net

Every Stakeholder has a Part in ODS Phase-outFaced with the phase-out challenges, many African countries havedecided that training in combating the illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances (ODS) can no longer be limited to customsofficers. They are now opening the training to other agents of con-trol – such as environmental inspectors and police officers, borderguards (including coastguards) and investigators. At a recent train-ing workshop in Guinea Bissau, customs officers were joined byborder guards, coastguards and municipal police officers. In Benin,environmental inspectors and police officers were trained in thetechniques of identification and inspection of ODS and ODS con-tainers. A workshop held in Cotonou in March 2005 was the firstevent of this type in Africa. It was made possible by financial andtechnical support from Environment Canada. The Democratic Republic of Congo ran a workshop to train customs officers and investigators from the Congo surveillance office in identification of

ODS and the fight against their illegal trade. Sixty-seven customsofficers and investigators took part. The workshop followed thesigning of an Interministerial Order regulating imports of ODS.The event received wide media coverage and the Congolese government used the opportunity to raise public awareness. Thefive Portuguese-speaking African countries (Mozambique, Angola,Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, and Sao Tome and Principe) met forthe first time during the joint African Network meeting in Octoberin Tanzania. This meeting highlighted the need for linguistic sup-port for these countries. Special assistance was given by Portugalin facilitating the group meetings and Portugal will assist thesecountries in producing awareness materials for public use.Contact: Yamar Guisse, UNEP ROA,email: yamar.guisse@unep.org

AFRICA

>> COMPLIANCE NEWS

ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

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A workshop on methyl bromide (MB) alternatives for strawberryproduction, held in Chile, attracted large numbers of growers and

has been hailed as an important step in promoting implementa-tion of the Montreal Protocol in the region. More than 50 per

Chilean Strawberry Growers Seek MB Alternatives

LATIN AMERICA

Airlines Plan for Halon ManagementFive international airlines are to examine their current and future halonuse and consider halon banking as a way of managing their needs overthe next 20 to 30 years. This initiative – a first – was taken at a meetingin Bahrain hosted by Bahrain's Ministry of Transportation and Civil Avia-tion Affairs and organised by the CAP ROWA. Participants, drawn fromboth developed and developing countries, included Air India, British Air-ways, Garuda Indonesia Group, Gulf Air, JAT Airways and Trans Mediter-ranean Airlines. They were joined by the co-chair of the Halon TechnicalOption Committee (HTOC), a representative of the International AirTransport Association (IATA), representatives of several national halonbanks and Ozone Officiers from the region. The delegates, having looked

at long-term options for managing dwindling stocks of halons used foron-board and ground-fire protection, drafted an action plan to addresstheir future strategic needs and established an informal information net-work to share ideas and best practices on the halon issue. As a nextstep, Gulf Air (in cooperation with UNEP and HTOC) plan to organise ameeting with aircraft manufacturers and aviation authorities in the Gulfregion. UNEP and HTOC hope to organise roundtable meetings in otherregions in 2006 to encourage airlines based in other developing coun-tries to pursue halon bank management strategies.Contact: Fareed Bushehri, UNEP ROWA,email: Fareed.Bushehri@unep.org.bh

"Be sun wise" Summer Campaign

WEST ASIABeachgoers in Lebanon are being warned about health risks from over-exposure to the sun and UV radiation. Dubbed “Be sun wise” the cam-paign was launched at Tyr Natural Coast Reserve on 16 July with lots offun activities such an environmental concert and a sand sculpting com-petition for children. The launch was followed by a two-day programmewhere a group of UN Volunteers, targeting more than 100 Lebanesebeaches and resorts, distributed SunSpots UV Sensors. These sensors,which react to UV-B sunlight and gradually change color from yellow tored with increasing exposure, will help parents to protect their childrenfrom sunburn. The campaign is promoted by the Lebanese Ministry of

Environment (Ozone Office) and UNDP, in collaboration with WHO, UN Volunteres, the Ministry of Public Health and the MedWet Coastproject (UNDP).Contact: Mazen K. Hussein, NOU Lebanon,email: mkhussein@moe.gov.lb andAbdulelah Al-Wadaee, UNEP ROWA,email: Adbulelah.Alwadaee@unep.org.bh

Ozzy Speaks ArabicTo increase Ozzy Ozone’s audience and spread the ozone layer protec-tion message the CAP team in ROWA has translated Ozzy’s messageinto Arabic. Now Ozzy has added Arabic to all the other languages hespeaks. Ozzy videos in Arabic have been circulated to the countries in

the region and their respective airlines. Soon Ozzy will be shown as partof the in-flight entertainment of major regional airlines in West Asia.Contact: Abdulelah Al-Wadaee, UNEP ROWA,email: Adbulelah.Alwadaee@unep.org.bh

The growing illegal trade in Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) in Central Asia is a common concern for the Regional Ozone Network forEurope and Central Asia. To address this, a meeting between 30 repre-sentatives of environmental, regulatory and customs authorities fromChina, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan was held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan,from 27 to 30 August 2005. The meeting’s objectives were to fostercross-border cooperation and encourage the development and adoptionof sub-regional solutions to the monitoring of ODS traffic, measureswhich will support sustainability of ODS phase-out programmes in thesub-region. The participants agreed to apply a voluntary Prior Informed

Consent (PIC) procedure to enhance the monitoring of ODS movementsbetween the three countries, organize joint border customs training andexplore the possibility of establishing a sub-regional centre for collectionand destruction of seized illegally imported ODS. Members of the RegionalOzone Networks for Europe and Central Asia and for Asia and Pacificwill continue to work jointly to put the agreed recommendations inpractice.Contact: Alla Metelitsa, UNEP DTIE, alla.metelitsa@unep.fr, ShaofengHu, UNEP ROAP, hus@un.org and Mars Amanaliev,NOU Kyrgyzstan, ecoconv@elcat.kg

Trilateral Talks Tackle ODS trade

EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA

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Lebanese beach campaign

cent of Chilean strawberry producers attended the meeting organised that by UNEP ROLAC and held in Santiago de Chile in August. They were joined by Chilean government representatives,national ozone officers and directors of MB projects from otherparts of the region as well as Spain, and the MBTOC co-chair,Mr. Nahum Marban. The organisers say strong representationfrom Chilean producers led to valuable dialogue and that sectorrepresentatives came to appreciate the effective management of

the Montreal Protocol. The workshop is the starting point in thesearch for MB alternatives on behalf of the producers and willcontribute to effective compliance by Chile.Contact: Mirian Vega, UNEP ROLAC,email: mirian.vega@pnuma.org and Ana Isabel Zúñiga, NOU Chile,email: azuniga@conama.cl

>> SPECIAL FEATURE6

All-Over Africa

Kenya's Growing Power of Methyl Bromide Alternatives

This project, launched in 2003 and implemented by GTZ and UNDP, covers cut flowers,nurseries, seedbeds, vegetables, fruit and other horticultural crops that have relied onthe use of methyl bromide in Kenya. Since the start, the project team have conductedfield visits, provided technical assistance and farmers’ training and established cruciallinkages with the various players in the cut flower and horticultural industries. Alterna-tives to methyl bromide have also been procured. These activities have raised aware-ness of the need to phase out methyl bromide and adopt effective and environmental-ly friendly alternatives.In adopting alternatives, the project team consider the seriousness of the soil-borneproblems and value of the crop in relation to the cost of the alternative. Many cut-flower producers and vegetable farmers have been advised on the use of alterna-tives and preventative methods such as field sanitation and seed dressers. Most ofthe perennial cut-flower growers are adopting substrate culture (coco peat andpumice, either alone or in combination, and to a lesser extent sterile red soil) alongwith good water-quality management practices to prevent contamination by nema-

todes and fungal pathogens. Nurseries have adopted steam and substrate cultivation.The team collaborates with national organisations including the Ministry of Environ-ment and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Horticultural Crops De-velopment Authority, the Fresh Produce Export Association of Kenya, the KenyaFlower Council and the University of Nairobi.Contact: Dominique Kayser, UNDP, email: Dominique.Kayser@undp.org

Substrate culture for carnations in Kenya Sugar snaps grown using methyl bromidealternatives, Kenya

Mauritius: A Small Island Making Big Waves

A multi-pronged approach, strong political will and collaboration between importersand end-users have put Mauritius well on the way to achieving its target of CFCphase-out in 2005.

Since acceding to the Montreal Protocol in 1992, Mauritius has signed all amend-ments and reduced CFC use from 70 ODP tons in 1991 to zero ODP tons in 2005,five years ahead of the date set by the Montreal Protocol.

From 1995 to 2001, the country replaced CFCs and CFC-using equipment in theaerosol and refrigeration sectors, a move which reduced CFC consumption by 69 percent. This would not have been possible without a grant of US$735,000 from theMultilateral Fund.

To help achieve the CFC freeze in 1999, Mauritius established a legislativeframework to control all ODS and equipment containing ODS. With the introductionof a quota system for importers and the collaboration of importers and end-users,CFC imports fell to about 25 tons – an improvement on the baseline figure of29.1 tons.

This success led Mauritius to adopt further strategies in 2000 towards CFC phase-out in 2005. A broad-based approach combining awareness-raising, training and in-centive measures as well as the establishment of proper decision-making and poli-cy-making structures was adopted as follows:

• Control of CFCs at source through clearance by the National Ozone Unit (NOU) before an application for an import permit is made.

• Introduction of linear 20 per cent annual reduction targets from 2000.

• Imposition of 40 per cent customs duty on CFCs and equipment containing CFCs.

• Tax relief on ozone-friendly products.

• Provision of training and CFC identifiers to frontline customs officers.

• Promotion of hydrocarbons technology.

In response, importers voluntarily shifted to alternative technologies and CFC im-ports dropped dramatically.

This remarkable success story – the first 100% phase-out of CFCs in Africa– rests on several key country-related factors: strong political will, leadership, active coordi-nation, committed importers and strictenforcement at customs entry points.

Mauritius has also achieved a 100 percent reduction in halon consumptionand the country plans to phase outthe remaining ODS – namely carbontetrachloride, methyl chloroform andmethyl bromide – by 2007.Contact: Yahyah Pathel,NOU Mauritius,email:ypathel@mail.gov.mu

National Ozone Unit of Mauritius

Making Malawi a Methyl Bromide Free Zone

On January 1 2005, Malawi had more than just the New Year to celebrate. On thatdate the country was able to declare itself methyl bromide free – the successfulculmination of a national programme funded by the Multilateral Fund and imple-mented by UNDP.

Malawi has successfully met its target of phasing out the use of methyl bromide inthe tobacco industry and has also phased out the use of methyl bromide in grainstorage.

At the time of ratification of the Montreal Protocol, Malawi was the second largestuser of the ODS methyl bromide in Africa, most of it as a fumigant in the country’simportant tobacco industry.

Given the significance of tobacco to the country’s economy, the phase-out projecthad to provide effective alternatives to methyl bromide. Field demonstrations onthe three alternatives – basamid, metham sodium and the floating tray system –have been and are still being conducted in all parts of the country.

Considerable efforts were made through the press and media to alert importersand farmers to the need to phase out methyl bromide; and programmes to pro-mote the alternatives and to train tobacco growers in their use were put in place.In the 2001 and 2002 seasons, the project successfully provided technical expert-ise, materials and equipment. Farmers’ concerns over the cost of the most popular alternative – the floating tray system- are now being addressed.

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All-Over Africa

>> SPECIAL FEATURE

As a result, Malawi has successfully met its deadline of phasing out the 111ODP tons of methyl bromide used in tobacco sector by 31 December 2004and has also phased out the 21 metric tonnes of methyl bromide used ingrain storage. Phosphine is now being used as a substitute in grain storage.Effective policymaking is well underway, a legal framework for the banningof methyl bromide is now established and additional measures are beingtaken to stop illegal trade in this substance.

Furthermore, the project has had an impact that goes well beyond theachievement at methyl bromide compliance targets.

For example, having adopted a flagship integrated approach, the project haspromoted South-South cooperation by encouraging exchange of technical

expertise with similar UNDP projectsaround the world. Also, because ofits extensive links with rural commu-nities the project has been able tosupport the national HIV/AIDS pro-gramme.Contact: Peter Mmora, NOU, Malawi,email: petermmora@yahoo.co.ukDominique Kayser, UNDP, Do-minique.Kayser@undp.org, EttaMmangisa, UNDP Malawi, email:etta.mmangisa@undp.org

Billboards promoting MB alternatives

Mali taking Awareness to Stratospheric Heights

Each year on 16 September, Mali celebrates the International Day for theProtection of the Ozone Layer with much ado: events include the screeningof a film on protection of the ozone layer plus lecture forums in Bamako andin each of Mali’s regions.

Programmes on the Montreal Protocol and the challenges it poses arebroadcast by local radio stations in all regional capitals, and the MalianPress and Advertising Agency promotes the activities of the Malian OzoneBureau through its regional correspondents. The Bureau is also workingclosely with the Association of Refrigeration Engineers of Mali to raise thelevel of awareness of consumers and economic players.

2001

At the request of the Ozone Secretariat, the Malian Ozone Bureau ran avideo competition on the theme of protecting the ozone layer, targeted at in-dependent video producers and all those involved in media-related activities.‘Let’s Protect the Ozone Layer’, a film produced by the Communication forDevelopment Multimedia Centre (CESPA), took second place for the Africaregion and received an award of US$1,000. The video was shown during aconference in Sri Lanka in October 2001. The film’s director was awarded acertificate by the Ex Director of the UNEP.

2002

In conjunction with CESPA, the Malian Ozone Bureau produced a commer-cial spot on protection of the ozone layer that was aired during the AfricanNations Cup tournament held in Mali. For the same tournament, the bureaualso prepared leaflets, targeted at Malian public employees and variousstate institutions, explaining the issues around ozone depletion and theneed for action. T-shirts printed with such slogans as “Protect our Planet”and “Save the Ozone Layer” were also distributed.

2003

In this year, the Malian Ozone Bureau supported the Coordinating Committeefor Women’s Associations and NGOs (CAFO) in raising women’s awarenessabout ozone-layer protection. In recognition of the role played by NGOs inpublic information campaigns, CAFO anticipates further help from the OzoneBureau to extend this initiative.

The Malian Ozone Bureau also created links with the Network of Commu-nicators for the Environment to promote even higher levels of publicawareness.

2004

Ozone Bureau initiatives were featured in local newspapers, such as ‘LeRépublicain and Info-Matin’, and in the official gazette, ‘Essor’, and the Bu-reau also took out several pages in the 2004 agenda published by theMalian Press and Advertising Agency.

For better coordination of public information campaigns, the Bureau organ-ised a meeting of the Decontamination and Environmental Pollution andNuisance Control agencies’ regional directors in Bamako so that they couldincorporate issues relating to the Montreal Protocol into action plans for theyears up to 2010.

2005

The Ozone Bureau recently translated the film ‘Ozzy Ozone’ into Bambara, alanguage used in many countries including Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea,Burkina Faso, Gambia and Sierra Leone.

For 2005, the Bureau published an updated version of an information book-let on ozone-layer depletion.Contact: Modibo Sacko, NOU Mali,email: sakhoam@yahoo.fr

Mr. Sacko informing the Arusha meeting that Ozzy Ozone is translated to Bambara

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AfricaMauritius Global launch of new UNEP educational website for children (www.ozzyozo-ne.org) at press conference hosted by the Minister of Environment and NationalDevelopment Unit, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Information Technology andTelecommunication and UNEP. Ozone day stickers prepared and distributed.

Eritrea (Article by the Department of Environment, Ministry of Land, Water andEnvironment highlighted ozone issues in The ‘Eritrea Profile’ newspaper on 17September. Ozone banners posted in the streets raised awareness.)

Gabon National publicity in State Press in the week before Ozone Day. Speech by theMinister of Environment aired at peak time on national radio and television from 15 to17 September and picked up widely by the press. Request from private TV channel –with a large audience – to the National Ozone Focal Point to explain ozone layer deple-tion, the aims of the Montreal Protocol and the need for action.

Asia and the PacificIndia Official Ozone Day celebration and award ceremony organised by the Ministry ofEnvironment and Forests, India. Air India and the Bank of Maharashta hosted outreachevents and produced awareness materials. Ozzy Ozone video shown on Air India flightsduring September. Ozone awareness articles featured in Air India in-flight magazine.

Afghanistan translated Ozzy Ozone into Pushto.

China Ozone Day celebrations organised by the State Environmental ProtectionAdministration (SEPA) and held in Shenzhen.

Philippines Special report to celebrate Ozone Month 2005 prepared by TheDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources. This year’s campaign focused onthe end-users of CFCs – the servicing sector – and the theme was 'Towards Ozone-Friendly and Customer-Oriented Servicing’.

WHERE WERE YOU ON OZONE DAY?The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed this September 16th, we all celebrated this day for the Preservatio

Ozone Layer was signed. This September 16th, we will all celebrate this day to promote public awareness about th

The UNEP DTIE provided this year the National Ozone Units with a range of Ozzy Ozone products, namtelevision spots on sun safe habits and ozone-friendly prod

Almost every country celebrated the ozone day, here are some examples of innovative celebrations around the wothe International Ozone Day. For more details, please consult OzonActio

9

Europe and Central AsiaArmenia Posters with information on the ozone layer, UV radiation, protection fromUV, and knowledge test prepared and distributed at seminars in two schools inSeptember.

Finland Media briefed on the Ozzy Ozone activities and International Ozone Day atthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Finland's location under the ozone hole discussed.

Georgia Radio announcements highlighting ozone layer protection, ozone depletingsubstances and the role of the National Ozone Unit (NOU) aired nearly 50 times inGeorgian language. Banners in the main street of Tbilisi and ozone posters in popu-lar newspaper '24 hours'. Children’s painting competition.

Kyrgyzstan Ozone Day theme highlighted in poster from the Ozone Centre of theMinistry of Ecology and Emergency Situation.

Latin America and the CaribbeanMexico Major event to mark the end of CFC production at Quimobasicos – largestmanufacturer of CFCs in Latin America. When this facility closed CFC output in Mexicofell to zero, North American production was reduced by 60 per cent, and global outputby 12 to 13 per cent.

Barbados Quizzes, questions and ozone tips aired on radio and TV and the nationalpress in the week of International Ozone Day. Children's workshop featuring Ozzy Ozoneand Friends highlighted ozone awareness and staying sun safe. Paintings by childrendepicting this year's ozone theme.

Colombia Launch of a commemorative postal stamp in Bogotá. Promotional messagesdisplayed on public transport. Posters and t-shirts printed and distributed.

Costa Rica Ozone-related plays performed by children to audiences of government offi-cials, UNDP and the press.

Guyana Ozone poster competition organised for children. Prizes included a round tripfor two to Tobago and book vouchers.

on of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date in 1987 on which the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete thehe successes achieved and the challenges ahead of us. This year’s theme was “Act Ozone Friendly - Stay Sun Safe!”

mely “Ozzy Ozone: Defender of Our Planet” (Cartoon book), radio spots from South and North poles,ducts and a new children’s website at www.ozzyozone.org

orld. For the first time financial institute such as Bank of Maharashtra of India and airlines like Air India celebrated on website at www.unep.fr/ozonaction/events/ozoneday/2005_main.htm

>> SPOTLIGHT ON BHUTAN

H.E. Dasho Nado Rinchhen,Deputy Minister of Environment,

National Environment CommissionSecretariat, Bhutan

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The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, a new Party to the Mon-treal Protocol, is moving quickly on initiatives to help protectthe ozone layer. Here the Deputy Minister of Environment explains the challenges facing the Kingdom as it strives forcompliance.

1. Bhutan ratified the Montreal Protocol recently (in August 2004) andhad to face immediate or short-term compliance with several controlmeasures. What were the greatest difficulties and how has the countryovercome them?

The first challenge was to carry out a nationwide survey in spite of difficult terrainand a scattered population and with a shortage of manpower and technical expert-ise. However, assistance from the CAP team has made it possible for Bhutan to re-main in compliance in 2005 and with sustained support it should remain in compli-ance beyond 2005. Bhutan has suggested that latecomers to the Protocol should begiven some flexibility with regard to the timetable.

2. How does the country’s geographical position between China and In-dia (both large ODS consumers and producers), affect Bhutan's nationalODS phase-out strategy?

We have no direct trade with China. With India we have free trade and lots of porousborders where illegal trade could potentially take place. The Government of India hasissued directives to the state bordering Bhutan not to export ODS-based equipment. Ithas also provided two identifiers and agreed to work jointly on border control.

3. As an LVC, Bhutan's main consumption of ODS is for refrigeration. Howdoes Bhutan manage its ODS refrigerants?

Till now we have met our demands for ODS by importing from India but sinceequipment manufactured in India has become CFC-free our need for these sub-stances has been greatly reduced. Now there are no CFCs available in the marketand our refrigerators are filled up with 134a gases. Some of the major refrigeratorexporters have trained a number of our technicians in retrofitting. Almost all the industries have agreed to retrofit, about half are in the process of doing so and theothers have already done it.

4. Bhutan's altitude makes it one of the countries closest to the ozone lay-er. It also has a large rural population that works predominantly outdoors.Is public awareness an important part of your national ODS phase-outstrategy?

Yes, public awareness is very important, not because people are using ODS-based

equipment but because the majority of them are engaged in outdoor work, whichgreatly increases the risk of skin cancer and cataracts.

5. His Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, King of Bhutan considers"gross national happiness" to be the appropriate measure of the country'sdevelopment, with "happiness" encompassing care for the environment,social sustainable development, cultural preservation and good gover-nance. How does implementation of the Montreal Protocol add to theKingdom's "gross national happiness"?

Care for the environment is one of the four pillars of “Gross National Happiness”, soimplementation will by definition contribute to the Kingdom’s “happiness”. Moreover,“health is wealth” and, the minimization of health problems caused by ozone layerdepletion will enrich the lives of the people of Bhutan in the widest sense.Contact: Mr. Ritu Raj Chhetri, NOU Bhutan,email: drukritu@hotmail.com

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The Constitution of the Kingdom of BhutanDraft of Tsa Thrim Chhenmo as on18th August 2005 p.9

Article 5 Environment

Paragraph 4Parliament may enact environmental legislation to ensure sustainable use of nat-ural resources and maintain intergenerational equity and reaffirm the sovereignrights of the State over its own biological resources.

UNDP: Chiller Conver-sion Gathers PaceAt the 46th ExCom meeting,UNDP received funds todemonstrate the feasibility of

replacing chillers through use of the Multilateral Fundas well as external resources. UNDP has submittedprojects looking at different financial models address-ing both private and public sectors. These have result-ed in demonstration chiller conversion programmes forBrazil, Colombia, Cuba and the Caribbean, which havepotential for much wider application. As part of cele-brations for International Ozone Day, UNDP and Chi-na’s State Environmental Protection Administration(SEPA) launched a programme whereby 11 provincesand cities signed an agreement to achieve total ODSphase out by June 2006. In Africa successful methylbromide elimination projects in Kenya and Malawi aredescribed on pages 6-7 of this newsletter.Contact: Dr. Suely Carvalho, Chief, Montreal Protocol Unit, UNDP, 304 East 45th Street, RoomFF970, New York, NY 10017, USA, Tél: +1 212 9065004, fax, +1 212 906 6947,email: suely.carvalho@undp.org, www.undp.org

Ozone Secretariat: Activities and AgendaThe Secretariat is organising the following meetings in Dakar, Senegal:• 35th meeting of the Implementation Committee, 7-9 December 2005,• Joint Bureau of the Parties to the Vienna Convention and the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, 10December 2005,• Joint meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention and the Meetingof the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, 12-16 December 2005.

Major issues to be discussed at the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention and the Meeting of theParties to the Montreal Protocol include:• the report of the sixth meeting of the Ozone Research Managers (Vienna, September 2005),• essential use nominations for continued use of CFCs,• critical use nominations for methyl bromide in applications currently without alternatives. Other topics includereplenishment of the Multilateral Fund for 2006-2008, tackling the illegal trade in ODS, implications of the de-struction of ODS, carbon tetrachloride use, compliance and reporting issues and proposed adjustment andamendment of the Montreal Protocol.Contact: Mr. Marco Gonzalez, UNEP Ozone Secretariat, P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya,tel: +254 20 623452, fax, +254 20 623410, email: marco.gonzalez@unep.org, www.unep.org/ozone

UNEP

UNIDO: Pressing Ahead with Phase-Out PlansThe 46th ExCom has given approval for UNIDO to assist Albania, Croatia, Egypt, DPR Koreaand Nigeria in taking the phase-out of ODS, CTC and CFC through the next stages. TheCommittee also approved the preparation of phase-out plans for Algeria, DPR Korea, Omanand Qatar. In addition, UNIDO plans the total phase-out of methyl bromide in tobacco, flow-

ers, ornamentals and strawberries in Brazil, and an awareness workshop in Cambodia is on the agenda. Côted'Ivoire will receive assistance in the phase-out of CFC-12 in the manufacture of deodorants. Institutionalstrengthening support to Oman has been renewed. In the chiller section, the Committee approved funds forpreparation of regional projects covering 13 countries in three regions – Europe, West Asia and Africa. A phasedapproach is to be adopted for each region. This, says UNIDO, will ensure that substitute funds are not disburseduntil all criteria relating to non-Multilatéral Fund investment have been agreed.Contact: Mr Si Ahmed, UNIDO, Vienna International Centre, P.O. Box 300, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.,Tel: +43 1 26026 3782. Fax, +43 1 26026 6804. email: s.ahmed@unido.org - www.unido.org

UNIDO

11

>> News from International Agencies

World Bank in Action on Broad FrontThe World Bank received approvals of US$10.1 million at the 46th ExCom for annual programmes inChina (process agent sector) and Venezuela (CFC production closure). An additional US$700,000was approved for the renewal of two institutional strengthening projects (in Jordan and Thailand)and for project preparation for chillers and a metered dose inhaler phase-out plan for Indonesia.

In view of the Committee’s agreement to proceed with a handful of chiller replacement projects with the US$15 millionin savings from the current triennium (to be submitted at the upcoming 47th Meeting), the World Bank is workingwith China, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Turkey, Argentina, Venezuela, and Mexico on activities which mightleverage Multilateral Funds resources with those from other sources. The World Bank also received funding to convene a chiller replacement seminar for major stakeholder groups, which took place in September in Washington.Participants from developing countries, other implementing agencies, major manufacturers, the Multilateral FundSecretariat, the Global Environment Facility, the USEPA, and others met to share ideas on how to jump-start chillerreplacements in developing countries to support CFC phase-out while reducing CO2 emissions.Contact: Mr. Steve Gorman,World Bank, 1818 H Street NW,Washington, DC 20433 USA - Tel: +1 202 473 5865,fax, +1 202 522 3258, email: sgorman@worldbank.org, www.worldbank.org/montrealprotocol

UNEP: Spreading the MessageThe 46th ExCom approved 11 projects for UNEP worth a total value of US$ 679,009 (excludingprogramme support cost). In recent months the agency has carried out a wide range of educatio-nal and promotional activities. With the NGO Japan Save the Ozone Layer network, UNEP organi-sed sessions on protecting the Ozone Layer at the Children’s World Summit for the Environmentheld in Aichi, Japan. During the SAICM PrepCom 3 in Vienna (September), the programme ran an

International Chemicals Management exhibition booth together with the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.To help countries celebrate International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (16 September), the InformationClearing House and regional CAP teams provided substantial support and materials. These included audio-visuals for TVand radio spots, an illustrated booklet for children in multiple languages and a Kid’s Corner website. UNEP cooperatedwith Air India to spread ozone-protection messages through the airline’s in-flight magazine and showings of the OzzyOzone video on all Air India flights from September-November 2005. In September, UNEP convened its annual ComplianceAssistance Programme Advisory Group meeting in Paris to obtain strategic advice about programme direction and content.Contact: Mr. Rajendra Shende, UNEP DTIE, 39-43 quai André Citroën, 76739 Paris Cedex 15, France,tel: +33 1 44 37 14 50, fax, +33 1 44 37 14 74, email: ozonaction@unep.fr, www.unep.fr/ozonaction

UNEP

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Progress in Ratification of the MontrealProtocol and its Amendments

>> NEW PUBLICATIONS12

This manual provides managers of smallaerosol filling plants and Ozone Officers withcritical information related to the safe conver-sion of aerosol plants to non-CFC propellants,specifically hydrocarbons. The guide presentsdetailed information about safety, formulaadaptations, and effective destenching meth-ods for aerosol production using hydrocarbonaerosol propellants.Source: www.unep.fr/ozonaction

Illegal trade in “environmentally-sensitive”commodities such as ozone depleting sub-stances, toxic chemicals, hazardous wastesand endangered species is an internationalproblem with serious consequences. Thisbrochure aims at presenting UNEP DTIEwork to combat illegal trade in chemicals.Source: www.unep.fr/ozonaction

This guide provides new and current OzoneOfficers with a comprehensive workingknowledge about the key issues which anOzone Officer needs to know to performhis/her job. It is designed to help them un-derstand the Montreal Protocol system in allits dimensions.Source: www.unep.fr/ozonaction

Venezuela:Ozone Layer Protected

under ConstitutionThe constitution of the Bolivarian Re-public of Venezuela now has a specificreference to protection of the stratos-pheric ozone layer, as quoted below:

“It is a fundamental duty of the State,with the active participation of society,to ensure that the populace develops ina pollution-free environment in whichair, water, soil, coasts, climate, the ozonelayer and living species receive specialprotection, in accordance with law.”

Constitution of the Bolivarian Repub-lic of Venezuela, Chapter IX, Article127

The Multilateral Fund Secretariat has pre-pared a booklet about the Multilateral Fundto mark the occasion of the 20th Anniversaryof the Vienna Convention for the Protectionof the Ozone Layer. The booklet provides anoverview of the lessons learned by the Multi-lateral Fund since 1991, and also presentssome of the challenges and opportunitiesthat lie ahead for the Fund.Source: www.multilateralfund.org

This brochure was prepared by UNDP, UNEP,UNIDO and the World Bank dealing with part-nerships as a model of international successfor implementation, partnerships in action,how to measure success and lessons learned.It was launched for the United Nations Gener-al Assembly in September 2005.Source: www.undp.org/montrealprotocol,www.unep.fr/ozonaction, www.unido.org,www.worldbank.org/montrealprotocol

Left to right: Rajendra Shende,UNEP, Suely Carvalho, UNDP,Steve Gorman, World Bankand Si Ahmed, UNIDO launching the booklet"The Montreal Protocol:Partnerships Changing theWorld"

Forthcoming Meetings 17th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol,12-16 December 2005, Dakar, Senegal.