Support for Ozone Protection

The effort to phase out ozone depleting substances, in keeping with the Montreal Protocol, will continue this year with the allocation of just over $4 million to the cause.

As outlined in the  2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, the project, which commenced in 1997, seeks to implement ozone depleting substances (ODS) legislation to control and monitor ODS consumption; ensure efficient and timely ozone depleting substance import data collection and reporting; facilitate consultations and co-ordination among various national agencies/stakeholders on Montreal Protocol related issues; and facilitate the heightening of public awareness and information exchange among stakeholders on the Protocol, and related issues.

The project, which falls under the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, is being implemented by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).

Activities effected, as at the end of March 2012, include: establishment of a National Ozone Unit to implement the Institutional Strengthening Framework; engagement of a National Ozone Officer, and support staff; and continued implementation of ODS phase-out action in the country programme.

For this year, there  will be: continued promotion and implementation of phasing out actions, identified in the country report; preparation and submission of a progress report on country programme implementation to the Montreal Protocol Secretariat; and preparation of a report on ODS consumption and production data,  and documented cases of illegal ODS trade to the Ozone Secretariat.

The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) is continuing its funding support of the initiative, in partnership with the Government of Jamaica.

By Douglas McIntosh