Waste Management and Pollution Control
Pacific island Ozone Officers and Customs Officers are meeting this week in Tonga to share experiences in working towards better management and regulation of ozone depleting substances. Ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and refrigerants contained in air conditioners and refrigerators are highly destructive to the earth's ozone layer, and it is this same ozone layer that protects us from harmful solar radiation.
The meeting was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, the Hon Samiu Vaipulu, and is being run by the United Nations Environment Programme and sponsored by the Tongan Government. The annual meeting enables national Pacific Ozone Officers to network, and gain the most up-to-date training and information to assist them to help manage ozone depleting substances in Pacific island countries.
National Pacific Ozone Officers attending the meeting have identified improved training of refrigeration mechanics as a top priority for the region.
"The widespread use of air conditioners and refrigerators in the Pacific region makes this an important regional environmental management issue as well as an opportunity for the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry to work closely with Environment Departments" said Mr Albert Williams (pictured above), the Director of the Vanuatu Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation.
"It is particularly important that the refrigerant gases contained in old equipment is captured and not accidentally or deliberately released into the environment when the equipment is serviced or decommissioned."
National Customs Officers are also being trained during the Tongan meeting in how to better detect and prevent illegal importation of banned ozone-depleting substances and refrigerants. Detection and seizure of any banned substances is a vital national obligation under the Montreal Convention, which controls the trans-boundary movement of ODS and refrigerants into Pacific island countries.
"The work of Pacific national Ozone Officers and Customs Officers is particularly important for protection of the environment", said Dr David Haynes, Director of SPREP's Waste Management and Pollution Control Division and a speaker at the meeting. "The continuing efforts of Ozone Officers to phase-out the national use of ODS will help preserve the ozone layer, as well as result in a significant reduction of national emissions of greenhouse gases."
The meeting was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, the Hon Samiu Vaipulu, and is being run by the United Nations Environment Programme and sponsored by the Tongan Government. The annual meeting enables national Pacific Ozone Officers to network, and gain the most up-to-date training and information to assist them to help manage ozone depleting substances in Pacific island countries.
National Pacific Ozone Officers attending the meeting have identified improved training of refrigeration mechanics as a top priority for the region.
"The widespread use of air conditioners and refrigerators in the Pacific region makes this an important regional environmental management issue as well as an opportunity for the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry to work closely with Environment Departments" said Mr Albert Williams (pictured above), the Director of the Vanuatu Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation.
"It is particularly important that the refrigerant gases contained in old equipment is captured and not accidentally or deliberately released into the environment when the equipment is serviced or decommissioned."
National Customs Officers are also being trained during the Tongan meeting in how to better detect and prevent illegal importation of banned ozone-depleting substances and refrigerants. Detection and seizure of any banned substances is a vital national obligation under the Montreal Convention, which controls the trans-boundary movement of ODS and refrigerants into Pacific island countries.
"The work of Pacific national Ozone Officers and Customs Officers is particularly important for protection of the environment", said Dr David Haynes, Director of SPREP's Waste Management and Pollution Control Division and a speaker at the meeting. "The continuing efforts of Ozone Officers to phase-out the national use of ODS will help preserve the ozone layer, as well as result in a significant reduction of national emissions of greenhouse gases."