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Climate Change and Ozone
Layer Protocols (Part - I)
Kalipada Chatterjee In the Kyoto Protocol to the Convention of Climate Change, gases like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluorides (SF6 ) need to be mitigated due to their very high global warming potential (GWP), whereas in the Montreal Protocol to substances that deplete the ozone layer, these are the replacement to the ozone depleting substances (ODS). Therefore, there is a basic conflict in the two processes. This conflict may be resolved considerably by policy harmonization, of climate change and depletion of the ozone layer protocols. For such a policy harmonization however, each country needs to take up scientific research at various levels for more efficient and expedient implementations of the two protocols and resolving the basic conflict. We are serialising two articles on these protocols, presented with an Indian Environmental NGO prespective. Following is the first article in the series. Atmospheric
trace gases which are For thousands of years prior to the industrial revolution, concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere were constant. However, as the world’s population increased, agriculture developed, industrialization progressed, the abundance of the greenhouse gases increased markedly causing enhanced greenhouse effect. Such human activities are: · energy production from fossil fuels · industrial activities (production & use of CFCs & Halons)· transportation· constructional activities· landuse changeThe trace gases responsible for global warming have very long atmospheric life time and are very stable in the lower atmosphere. When these gases are transported upwards by atmospheric processes to the stratrosphere (15-50 km above the earth’s surface), they break-up by the interaction with the high intensity ultra violet radiations from the sun and react with the ozone molecules and deplete the ozone layer. Both global warming and depletion of the ozone layer are due to the same source gases and have many adverse effects on human health and environment (Please see Figure 1, given below). Baseline Study on Ozone Layer Recently, Development Alternatives carried out a baseline study of the ozone layer over India by using 25 years' well calibrated Indian network of total ozone data series. Some of the results from the baseline study are depicted in the Figure 2 (given on the next page). Impact of increased UV-B reaching the earth’s surface Depletion of the ozone layer results in increased UV-B reaching the earth’s surface, causing adverse impacts on: l human eye and immune system l skin cancerl agriculturel aquatic lifel materialsGlobal warming and Climate change also projected to have many adverse impacts on: forests, desertification, sea level rise, agriculture, hydrology and rainfall distribution, fisheries, human health, economy, society. Country’s overall status of implem-entation of the Montreal Protocol. During the early eighties, the potentially harmful impact on human health and the environment through the modification of the ozone layer by human activities became a matter of international concern. UNEP constituted a Coordination Committee on Ozone Layer (CCOL) to deal with the matter. It became apparent that the protection of the ozone layer from human activities required international cooperation and action, based on scientific and technical considerations. This led to the signing of the Vienna Convention on protection of the ozone layer in 1985 and the Montreal Protocol on ozone depleting substances in 1987, and amendments at London (1990), Copenhagen (1992), Vienna (1995). India took part in the coordination Committee activities (UNEP, Nairobi, 1986).Per capita CFC Consumption in India India consumes very little chlorofluorocarbons and halons - only of the order of 8 gms per capita, against about a kilogram by the developed countries. Though developing countries like India are consuming very little CFCs and Halons and their contribution to the depletion of ozone layer is very negligible, the impact of increased ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth’s surface will be mostly felt by devel-oping count-ries as they do not have the requisite infrastructure like medical facilities, funds and technologies to address to the adve-rse impacts on human health and environment, including for-ests and agriculture.Present status of implementation India is committed to adhere to the provisions of the Montreal Protocol for phasing out of ODS production and consumption. The commitment is, however, based on the premise that sufficient funds and required technologies are transferred in accordance with the provisions under Article 10 of the Protocol.
Transfer of Technology One of the main reasons for the slow progress of implementation of ODS phase out is the hurdles that are being faced in the technology transfer. Three hurdles in technology transfer in the Indian context. are: * high cost (not affordable sometimes); * export restriction of technology by supplier; and * equity These hurdles need to be resolved urgently. India has a very sound scientific and technological base. India would like to start R&D to adapt technologies after transfer. Considerable funds are required for this effort. Once such a R&D centre in India is activated, the same centre can be upgraded to provide the facility to all the parties in the Asia Pacific region. Without such a mechanism in place, it is very much doubtful that the entire process of technology transfer and adaptation would be sustainable. It is evident from the above tables that the consumption of CFCs in India has shown a slight increase. However, more than 50 per cent of CFC consumption in 1996 is already covered in approved projects. Therefore, India should not have any difficulty in meeting its first obligation which is a freeze in consumption of CFCs with effect from July 01, 1999. The freeze in production of CFCs (with effect from the same date) is linked to the progress on finalisation of guidelines for funding projects in the production sector. It is not unlikely that due to decreasing demand of CFCs, freeze in the production of CFCs with effect from July 01, 1999 may be achieved in the absence of such guidelines. India has put forward its stand to the Executive Committee of the Montreal Protocol that industries should be given full compensation for closure of their industries i.e., full economic cost to be compensated and not the incremental costs alone. In short, an enabling climate needs to be created for India to comply with the Protocol provisions. Monitoring the atmospheric ozone For the protection of the ozone layer, in addition to phasing out of CFCs, monitoring the atmospheric ozone layer on a routine basis must be taken up. India has a very good network since the IGY period (1957) for measurement of total ozone (stratospheric & tropospheric ozone), surface ozone and vertical distribution of ozone over India (by balloon sonde and Umkehr Observations). Though India has acquired a very valuable long ozone data series, it is not enough until there is a mechanism set-up in India to analyse and interpret through international cooperation and the Ozone Center maintaining the Regional Standard Total Ozone Instrument (at New Delhi). The Regional standard instrument is compared with the World Standard once in four years for maintaining calibration of ozone instruments in the national network as well as in the region. Convention and Protocol on Climate Change: India’s Policy The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India is the Nodal Ministry on all matters/issues related to Climate Change, Ozone depletion and their Conventions and Protocols. Government of India does not have any written policy or measures on climate change. However, as a Party to the Framework Convention, India follows the Convention provisions. The Article 3.1: Principles of the FCCC states that "The Parties should protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of humankind, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Accordingly, the developed country Parties should take the lead in combating climate change and the adverse effects thereof." In all International Climate negotiations, Government of India, (as a Party to FCCC) acts in harmony with the policy of G-77 and China. 1) India’s strategy in terms of contributing to the global efforts at reducing the risk of climate change is to: l develop institutional capacity to formulate, assess and implement economic, social and technical responses to climate change;l focus on transfer and adaptation of technologies; andl integrate sustainable development with the national development programmes.Other activities related to Climate Change are coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Working Group (WG) of Experts on Climate Change The MOEF has set up a Working Group (WG) on Climate Change to advise Government on matters relating to Climate Change issues, including the Kyoto Protocol.
Task Force The MoEF has also the set up a Task Force (TF) to evaluate the pilot phase AIJ proposals and for endorsement. The members of the TF are from the implementing Ministries like Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Coal, Petroleum, Agriculture, Power, Industry, Science & Technology and also from the Planning Commission and NGOs. The TF is chaired by the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Expert Advisory Committee (EAC) on Research in Global Environment Issues MOEF has set up an Expert Advisory Committee to approve proposals on research in the field of global environment. India has completed an all India coordinated research study on the impact of Sea Level Rise (SLR). The study has brought out considerable inputs to our knowledge and delineated Indian coastal belts and islands which are likely to be impacted very adversely due to SLR as a result of global warming.
India’s Strategy India’s strategy in contributing to the global efforts at reducing the risk of climate change is to: l develop institutional capacity to formulate, assess and implement economic, social and technical responses to climate change;l focus on transfer and adaptation of technologies; andl integrate sustainable development with the national development programmes.
ADB Climate Change Study India participated in the Asian Development Bank project on Climate Change issues. The focus of the study is potential impacts of climate change on India and to define the range of adaptation measures that can be taken. GHG Inventory Government of India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Laboratory system has made preliminary estimates of greenhouse gas emissions for India and provided them to the IPCC.
Climate Change Research Several institutions in India like Development Alternatives, Tata Energy Research Institute, Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research and Centre for Science and Environment are currently active in conducing research and analysis of response strategies to mitigate climate change.
Energy & Emission from Building Sector Development Alternatives have recently completed a study on the emissions from the four most energy intensive building materials: burnt brick, lime, steel and cement and brought out structural transformation required to bring down resource consumption and emissions, and have presented policy options for reducing emissions from the building sector.
ALGAS Project India also took part in the GEF funded Asia Least-cost Greenhouse Gas Abatement Strategy (ALGAS) project. The objective of the 11 country ALGAS project is to assist participating countries from the Asian region to reduce the rate of growth in their emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). ALGAS seeks to develop and enhance capability in the Asian region to i) refine estimates of the sources and sinks of GHG emissions and the adverse impacts of climate change, ii) more effectively assess, based on common and verifiable methodologies, the options for reducing sources and enhancing sinks of GHGs, and adapting climate change; and iii) identify and implement cost effective opportunities for limiting GHG emissions, increasing GHG sinks and mitigating any potential adverse impacts of climate change. The project will also result in national inventories of GHG's source and sinks. q
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