DOMINICA, Nov 24 (IPS) – The world celebrates the Worldwide Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer annually, however for Saint Lucia, the annual month-long observance highlights year-round work on ozone safety.For nations throughout the globe, September 16th is a day to mirror on progress in defending the ozone layer. The United Nations designated day for the preservation of the ozone layer is marked by speeches, and academic and social media campaigns.
For the Caribbean Island of Saint Lucia, in the future isn’t ample to spotlight the features made or to have fun the 1987 signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer, a landmark, universally ratified treaty.
For that nation, Ozone ‘day’ caps a month-long observance, and ozone safety is a year-round effort.
“The Nationwide Ozone Unit was established in 1997 and is accountable for coordinating our actions and programmes to make sure that we meet our targets underneath the Montreal Protocol,” Sustainable Improvement and Surroundings Officer in Saint Lucia’s Division of Sustainable Improvement Kasha Jn Baptiste instructed IPS.
“Our predominant obligation is reporting on our progress with the phasing out of ozone-depleting substances and coordinating related tasks. Different duties embrace schooling and consciousness, technician coaching, implementation and enforcement of laws, and coordinating companions to make sure that we meet our obligations underneath the conference. This can be a year-round job.”
Following summer time actions with youth aged 15-18, the Division of Sustainable Improvement held a month-long observance in September. Occasions included media appearances and updates on Saint Lucia’s progress towards reaching the mannequin protocol. The Division has held consciousness occasions in any respect college ranges, with extra actions scheduled for October.
It’s a part of a year-round effort to teach the general public and put youth on the heart of ozone safety.
“Probably the most essential methods to proceed to spotlight the ozone layer is thru elevated consciousness. We began with ozone day and often focused on schooling actions round that day, however we realised that we should have actions year-round. We’re additionally encouraging the instructing of ozone points as a part of our science curriculum,” mentioned Jn Baptiste, who’s the Focal Level for the Montreal Protocol in Saint Lucia.
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Sector
A significant part of sustaining compliance with the Montreal Protocol includes stringent monitoring of the refrigeration and air-con sector. This contains refrigerants corresponding to chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs, a gaggle of ozone-depleting chemical compounds which have been banned however stay in older fridge and air situation fashions.
In Saint Lucia, the Sustainable Improvement Division conducts year-round coaching for technicians.
“The refrigeration air-con sector is the place we use the majority of these merchandise and technicians are those servicing this stuff. We wish them to concentrate on what is occurring, how the sector is transitioning, and what new alternate options can be found,” Jn Baptiste instructed IPS.
In a 2016 modification to the Montreal Protocol, nations agreed to section out using hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have been getting used as substitutes to CFCs. Referred to as the Kigali Amendment, its signatories agreed that these HFCs characterize highly effective greenhouses gases (hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon) and contribute to local weather change.
“What is de facto essential now’s that nations like Saint Lucia have targets on the Montreal Protocol. We now have been saying ‘HFC-free by 2030,’ so in October, Saint Lucia will launch section two of our HPMP, the HFC Section Out Administration Plan. That can embrace actions wanted to assist us obtain that 2030 goal. We’ll develop on what has been finished prior to now and embrace actions for coaching of technicians.”
Legislative modifications
Officers are at present reviewing the nation’s laws to make sure compliance with Kigali Modification targets.
“Our laws must be up to date to develop our licensing and quota system to incorporate HFCs in order that we will goal these gases and management them underneath the Montreal Protocol,” Jn. Baptiste mentioned.
“What’s attention-grabbing is that the HFC phase-down can contribute to prevention of 0.4 levels of warming by the tip of the century. That’s essential. 0.4 levels is small, however we all know that the Paris Settlement targets a 1.5 diploma. The Kigali Modification, if nations implement it, might be doing a few of the work of the local weather settlement. The Montreal Protocol began off with the objective of preserving the ozone layer, nevertheless it has advanced to deal with local weather change points – world warming points.”
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© Inter Press Service (2022) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
