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China closes ozone depleting chemical plants as part of UN initiative

China closes ozone depleting chemical plants as part of UN initiative

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China, the world’s largest producer of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and halon, has shut down five of its six remaining plants as part of international efforts to phase-out the two ozone depleting chemicals, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said.

China, the world’s largest producer of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and halon, has shut down five of its six remaining plants as part of international efforts to phase-out the two ozone depleting chemicals, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said.

The facilities were closed during a symbolic ceremony on Sunday organized by Chinese authorities in recognition of chemical companies’ efforts to stop manufacturing products that harm the ozone layer and as part of UNEP’s “Remembering Our Future” initiative.

With Sunday’s action, the country is two and a half years ahead of the 2010 deadline imposed b the Montreal Protocol, which regulates levels of ozone-depleting substances in the atmosphere. A weakened Ozone layer allows for dangerous ultraviolet radiation with harmful health effects, and UNEP estimates that without the Protocol, there could have been up to 20 million more cases of skin cancer and 130 million more cases of eye cataracts.

The shut down of the five facilities, in Chiangshou City, near Shanghai, will bring China’s production of CFCs to just about 550 metric tons, down from 55,000 metric tons at its peak in 1998, UNEP said.

China became the largest producer of ozone depleting chemicals following the shut down of plants producing these chemicals in developed countries in 1996. The closure of the Chinese plants now puts India and South Korea as leading producers of the two ozone depleting chemicals in Asia Pacific, the agency said.

“With more t 95 per cent of the ozone depleting substances being phased out, the Protocol is among the great success stories of recent years,” said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner. “This success underlines how, with political will, creative financing mechanisms and the support for industry and NGOs, the international community can rise to the challenge of sustainable development.”

Under the Montreal Protocol ozone depleting chemicals are being successfully phased out worldwide with assistance from the Montreal Protocol’s Multilateral Fund, which has financed activities in 140 developing countries, according to UNEP. Ozone chemicals like CFCs and halon have been phased out in developed countries by 1996 except for small essential uses. By 2010, production of ozone depleting substances will be banned in developing countries, including countries in Asia and the Pacific.