Caribbean Ozone Officers commended

 

The Caribbean Ozone Officers Network is the first network to meet together to discuss solutions to the problems presented as a result of the Kigali Amendment. 
 
According to a news release from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), October 15th saw 200 countries strike the landmark deal to reduce the emissions of powerful greenhouse gases, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which is a move that could prevent up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming by the end of the century. 
 
Speaking during the official opening ceremony of the Caribbean Ozone Officers’ Network Meeting which was held at the Radisson Aquatica Hotel Tuesday morning, Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, the head of Branch UNEP, Division of Technology and Industry Economics Branch in Paris, pointed out that she was proud of the initiative taken by the Ozone Officers to have the meeting with a specific focus on the surveys. It was explained that the surveys were ways in which countries could find out how best to lower their dependence on the HFCs and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). She added that each survey was important as it helped to understand the consumption of the alternatives to the ozone depleting substances, as well as provide ways in which the countries can position themselves to obtain further funding, in order to access alternative technologies and the transfer to these technologies. 
 
Despite the challenges that will definitely arise in trying to complete these surveys, she said that it was best to make these challenges known, so that she and others are able to guide them along the process of completion. She noted that a number of templates were developed to assist them so that as much information as possible could be gathered in finding ways to assist them in helping their country transfer to a HFC and CFC free zone, as well as finding new possible resources for the future.  Nair-Bedouelle said that she looked forward to the completion the surveys as the information gathered will be able to give everyone involved a better idea on how to position the policies on a national level, so that UNEP is able to provide the governments with essentials to move forward and set the legal frameworks in place.

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