R22 air cons to be phased out by Dec. 31
The Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ebenezer Appah Sampong, has indicated a quota regime would soon be implemented to control and phase out R22-based air-conditioned unit and refrigerants imported into the country by the end of the year.
He pointed out the strategy is to address the residual consumption volume of ozone-depleting substances that was difficult to phase out.
Mr Appah Sampong disclosed this while addressing assembly members and other relevant bodies of the New Juaben North municipality in an engagement to mark the World Ozone Day.
The Day is usually marked by having engagement with targeted stakeholders to create awareness.
This year, selected district assemblies in three regions would be engaged.
The Deputy Executive Director explained that most of the ozone-depleting substances had gases in cooling systems such as the air conditioning, fridges among others.
He was emphatic a quota system would be used to control and phase out the R22-based air conditioners imported into the country to support Protect the Ozone Layer initiative in support of global efforts and maintain gains of protocols and conventions signed onto.
R22 is a Hydrochloroflourocarbon refrigerant used in air conditions but their releases deplete the ozone layer and contribute to climate change.
Ghana is a signatory to the 1987 Montreal Protocol and the Vienna Convention.
The Montreal Protocol seeks to control the production and emission of ozone depleting substances across the world.
The Montreal Protocol 2020 target to signatory countries to reduce emissions of Hydrocholorofluorocarbons (HCFC’s) by 35 percent has been exceeded and doubled to 70 percent by Ghana.
This year’s theme for marking the World Ozone Day is ‘Montreal Protocol, Keeping Us and Our Vaccines Cool’.
The EPA Deputy Executive Director pointed out that all stakeholders had a duty to control the emission of ozone-depletion substances and their impact as part of global effort.
He added a strong international cooperation and strict controls at national level can promote universal participation, leading to ozone protection in a unified world.
The EPA Director for Ozone Layer and Climate Change, Emmanuel Osae Quansah, said the depletion of the ozone layer caused ultra-violet B radiation to reduce the nutritional values of some food stuff, hence the need for more awareness creation.
source: 3news
