Tonga looks at control of ozone depleting substances [1]
Tuesday, June 21, 2022 - 19:11
The storage and disposal of refrigerants at the Customs area is a concern for Tonga's National Ozone Unit, while more research is needed on the control of methylbromide by the Quarantine Division.
These concerns were raised at a meeting, held to oversee Tonga's obligations to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, on 15 June in Nuku'alofa.
MEIDECC’s Department of Climate Change hosted the meeting with the National Advisory Committee for Ozone Layer Protection.
The meeting aimed to oversee Tonga’s obligations to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer as well as ensuring that all implemented and planned activities of the National Ozone Unit (NOU) is aligned with the provisions of the Ozone Layer Protection Act 2021, stated the Department.
CEO for MEIDECC and Chairman of the Ozone Advisory Committee Paula Maú met members, after a long break and self- isolations from the natural disasters in January and constraints of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As a result of the advisory committee’s review of the Ozone Unit work plan and status of phasing out HCFC, some major concerns were raised.
- ensuring a proper storage facility for the seized refrigerants at Customs area
- establishing a legal way for seized refrigerants’ disposal
- research and report on the consumption and control measures of methyl bromide by Quarantine Fumigation division
- to include Tonga Fire Services to the inspection team when surveying storage facilities for flammable refrigerants.
The Climate Change Department said, the meeting concluded with presentations on the phase out schedule of the Montreal Protocol and Ozone Layer Protection Act by ‘Aloisio Fifita and Papyrus Tokai from the MEIDECC’s Department of Climate Change and Corporate Services Division.
In addition, one of the presentations highlighted that the maximum allowable consumption and the actual consumption rate being directly proportional to each other is a good indicator for achieving Tonga’s phase out schedule re Montreal Protocol requirements.
Although the consumption rates of HCFC over the years vary and do not follow a specific trend, the most important factor is not exceeding the designated maximum allowable consumption for each period of time, said Fifita.
This meeting was held at the Department of Climate Change Office attended by representatives from relevant line ministries and non-government organizations.
The next ozone advisory meeting is planned for September this year.