U.N. ozone layer protection talks open in China
Reuters News ServiceThe protocol calls for developing countries to freeze their emissions of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halon at average 1995-97 levels in the year from July 1, 1999. They must then cut back to 50 percent of those levels by 2005.
Developed countries, which with the exception of Russia and several other states have stopped using the chemicals, have helped poorer states meet their targets through a Multilateral Fund which has spent $940 million since it was set up in 1991.
"The billion dollars already spent by the fund on returning the stratospheric ozone layer to health has been an incredible bargain," said UNEP executive director Klaus Toepfer.
Toepfer issued a statement urging governments to fund ozone protection for "as long as it takes for this natural shield against harmful radiation to be completely revived".
The ozone layer, which shields the earth from the sun's harmful radiation, has had large holes eaten out of it by chlorine and bromine compounds released by CFCs and halons used in refrigerators, causing illnesses including skin cancer and cataracts.
The ozone hole over Antarctica - the region where ozone typically gets depleted - covered 9.8 million square miles (25.38 million sq km) on September 15, according to preliminary data from NASA's Earth Probe satellite.
China received $420 million from the Multilateral Fund and would use $200 million to help 200 firms upgrade equipment and clean up ozone-damaging industrial products, state media reported in July.
China, which has estimated it needs $860 million to meet its Montreal Protocol obligations, has ratified more than 30 regulations concerning ozone layer protection, the official People's Daily newspaper said last week.
State media says China reduced annual consumption of ozone-damaging products from 105,000 tonnes in 1995 to 87,000 tonnes last year.