Delegates from nearly 200 countries have reached an agreement to eliminate ozone-depleting substances faster than originally planned, the United Nations reported. The agreement was reached at a conference in Montreal marking the twentieth anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, which aimed to reduce the emission of chemicals found to harm the ozone layer.
The layer protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation. The United States, with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), called on delegates to shorten the deadline for phasing out the production and use of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) from 2030 to 2020 for developed countries, and for developing countries from 2030 to 2040. "An agreement has been reached on the accelerated phase-out and gradual elimination of HCFCs, which UNEP believes is historic," said UNEP spokesperson Nick Nuttall. He stated that the details of the agreement would be released on Saturday morning in Montreal. Nuttall mentioned that the agreement must be approved at the conference’s plenary session, adding that he does not expect any issues or delays. Washington claims that a faster phase-out of HCFCs would be twice as effective as the Kyoto Protocol in combating climate change. (H)
