For the first time since 1998 Australia will play host to nearly 40 countries to discuss phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) under the Montreal Protcol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
Three Asia and Pacific networks of ozone officers will meet on the Gold Coast today to share experiences on phasing out the last of the major ozone depleting gas.
These three networks together comprise nearly 40 countries from the Asia and Pacific region.
This region has both the largest and lowest volume consuming countries of ozone depleting substances. It is also responsible for over 90 per cent of global production of HCFCs and 85 per cent of production of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.
The ozone officers in each country are responsible for implementation of the Montreal Protocol, and they are all gearing up to meet their first compliance obligations to freeze their use of HCFCs in 2013 and to start phasing out in 2015.
HCFCs are not only ozone depleting gases, but in many cases, also very strong greenhouse gases.
The meeting is being held on the Gold Coast from May 6 - 9, 2013 and will take advantage of Australia's experience in managing HCFCs as Australia and other developed countries have nearly completed phasing out these gases.
These gases are widely used in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors, for foam blowing and to extinguish fires. There are many alternatives to HCFCs, but some of them (such as HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons)) are also high global warming potential gases.
Meetings of ozone officers are held every year, but this is the first time that such a large meeting has been held, and the first time since 1998 that such a meeting has been held in Australia.
The networks are an important plank for countries to learn from each other and from developed country partners about how to best stop using ozone depleting substances and help repair the ozone layer.
Australia has been actively involved in supporting these countries meet their phase-out obligations under the Montreal Protocol since 1996, and has provided policy and technical support to these countries for nearly 20 years.
At this meeting, many Australian industry and government experts will be sharing their expertise and experiences with countries from the region on how to effectively manage and stop using HCFCs.
The meeting will also assist countries to meet their Montreal Protocol obligations to put regulations and policies in place and to help them stay in compliance with the phase-out targets.
It will share experiences on how countries might be able to gain access to additional funding and resources to help them to address other environmental benefits of the HCFC phase-out.
Finally, it will look more closely at international and national standards and how they might increase the availability of HCFC alternatives that are environmentally friendly.
Funding to assist developed countries meet their obligations is provided by developed countries through the Montreal Protocol's Multilateral Fund.
Ozone Scientists predict that the ozone layer will be restored to 1980 levels by 2050 provided all countries continue to meet Montreal Protocol obligations.
The meeting is being jointly hosted by the Australian Government, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) office for Asia and the Pacific.
Experts from other UN agencies (UN Development Programme, UN Industrial Development Organisation, and the Ozone Secretariat) and from other partners in the region (United States of America, Japan, New Zealand) will also attend the meeting.
In 2012, the Montreal Protocol celebrated its 25th anniversary.
All 197 UN member states are party to the Montreal Protocol making it the first UN treaty to have universal membership.
