International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

In News

• Recently, India organised a programme to observe the 28th World Ozone Day. 

Publications of the Ozone Cell

• The 23rd edition of “The Montreal Protocol: India’s Success Story” was released. 
• Action Plan for implementing the recommendations of the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) for the thematic Area Space Cooling in Buildings
• Study Report on Public Procurement Policies for Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning (RAC) Equipment using non-ODS based refrigerants
• Study Report on Cold Chain sector in India for Promoting non-ODS and Low-GWP Refrigerants
• Booklet on Good Servicing Practices for Energy Efficient operation of Room Air conditioners

India’s Efforts & Achievements 

• Montreal Protocol:
  • India has played a proactive role in the phase-out of production and consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances. 
  • India has not been a traditional contributor to global emissions, but in its actions, it is showing the intent to be a problem solver. 
  • India phased out Chlorofluorocarbons, Carbon tetrachloride, Halons, Methyl Bromide and Methyl Chloroform for controlled uses as on 1 January 2010, in line with the Montreal Protocol schedule.
  • India is among the countries which has stated that the country’s sustainable development will be such that net zero is achieved by 2070. 
• Phasing out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons: 
  • Currently, Hydrochlorofluorocarbons are being phased out as per the accelerated schedule of the Montreal Protocol.  
  • Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage – I has been successfully implemented from 2012 to 2016 and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage – II is under implementation since 2017 and will be completed by 2023.  
  • Stage III of the HPMP, the last of the HPMPs to phase out remaining HCFCs, will be implemented from 2023 – 2030. 
  • The phase-out of HCFCs in all manufacturing sectors, comprising refrigeration and air-conditioning manufacturing sectors, will be completed by 1.1.2025 and the activities relating to the servicing sector will be continued till 2030.
• Kigali Amendment:
  • India played a key role in the finalization of the Kigali Amendment. 
  • After ratifying the same in September 2021, the central government is working towards developing a national strategy, in close consultation with the industry stakeholders, for phasing down Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions: 
  • The study on reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions through phase-out of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) was carried out by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
  • It estimates that the reduction of GHG emissions due to phase-out of ODS till 2022 is 465 million tonne CO₂ equivalent. 
  • It is expected that the reduction of GHG emissions till 2030 is expected to be 778 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
• India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP):
  • The goal is to provide socio-economic and environmental benefits related to reduced refrigerant use, climate change mitigation and Sustainable Development Goals over the period 2037-38. 
  • This will significantly contribute to India’s climate action in achieving the net zero emissions by 2070, through the ‘Panchamrita’, committed by the Prime Minister of India, at the Climate Change Conference of Parties in 2021.
• Research and Development: 
  • The Environment Ministry will soon be entering into collaboration with eight Indian Institutes of Technology (Bombay, Roorkee, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Guwahati, Banaras, Madras and Delhi) to promote research and development of chemicals with low global warming potential, including blends. 
  • These can be used as alternatives to substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol. 
  • The collaborative research will be done in line with industry requirements through engagement of research scholars, leading to the development of a robust R&D ecosystem in this area, and will also help promote the Make in India initiative of the Government.

Way Ahead

• The world is facing a climate crisis because of wasteful use of energy, calling for adopting the mantra of L.I.F.E (Lifestyle for Environment) which was coined by the Prime Minister of India. 
• The mantra is in line with the concept of sustainable lifestyle, encouraging us to adopt mindful and not mindless consumption and utilization of resources.

Source: PIB