UNEP Launches Compliance Assistance Program
The United Nations Environment Program has announced a new Compliance Assistance Program that will aid businesses in developing countries in meeting their targets to phase out use of chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting substances.
The United Nations Environment Program has announced a new Compliance Assistance Program that will aid businesses in developing countries in meeting their targets to phase out use of chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting substances.
UNEP said new program, which is part of its OzonAction Plan, is aimed at improving the quality of services provided to developing countries, in order to aid them in complying with the Montreal Protocol, which requires developing companies to phase out the production and sale of ozone-depleting substances.
"The Montreal Protocol is succeeding but the job is not yet over,” said Jacqueline Aloisi de Larderel, assistant executive director of UNEP, and director of the division of technology industry and economics. “Ensuring that developing countries fulfill their compliance is essential for the success of the treaty and ultimately the recovery of the ozone layer, and we believe UNEP's new approach under the CAP will assist in realizing this objective.”
According to UNEP, the new Compliance Assistance Program will move UNEP away from its previous project-management approach. In the future, a team of UNEP staff located in UNEP's Regional Offices and DTIE Paris will deliver compliance assistance directly to countries on the ground.
"Through the more direct delivery of services that is envisioned, CAP will enable UNEP to be more responsive to the needs of Article 5 countries. This innovative regional delivery approach may set a trend in supporting compliance with other multilateral environmental agreements," said de Larderel.
Under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and its amendments, developing countries that are party to the protocol (Article 5 countries) must reduce and eventually phase-out both the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances.
These countries have committed to a 1999 freeze in their production and consumption of CFCs, to be followed by a 50% reduction by 2005, an 85% cut by 2007, and a complete phase out by 2010; they will also be required to freeze halons and methyl bromide in 2002. Developed countries almost completely phased out CFCs in 1996, except for a small number of essential uses.
UNEP said new program, which is part of its OzonAction Plan, is aimed at improving the quality of services provided to developing countries, in order to aid them in complying with the Montreal Protocol, which requires developing companies to phase out the production and sale of ozone-depleting substances.
"The Montreal Protocol is succeeding but the job is not yet over,” said Jacqueline Aloisi de Larderel, assistant executive director of UNEP, and director of the division of technology industry and economics. “Ensuring that developing countries fulfill their compliance is essential for the success of the treaty and ultimately the recovery of the ozone layer, and we believe UNEP's new approach under the CAP will assist in realizing this objective.”
According to UNEP, the new Compliance Assistance Program will move UNEP away from its previous project-management approach. In the future, a team of UNEP staff located in UNEP's Regional Offices and DTIE Paris will deliver compliance assistance directly to countries on the ground.
"Through the more direct delivery of services that is envisioned, CAP will enable UNEP to be more responsive to the needs of Article 5 countries. This innovative regional delivery approach may set a trend in supporting compliance with other multilateral environmental agreements," said de Larderel.
Under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and its amendments, developing countries that are party to the protocol (Article 5 countries) must reduce and eventually phase-out both the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances.
These countries have committed to a 1999 freeze in their production and consumption of CFCs, to be followed by a 50% reduction by 2005, an 85% cut by 2007, and a complete phase out by 2010; they will also be required to freeze halons and methyl bromide in 2002. Developed countries almost completely phased out CFCs in 1996, except for a small number of essential uses.
