Russia Done with Ozone Depleting Substances

MOSCOW, Russia, August 14, 2002 (ENS) - Seven Russian enterprises have ceased production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons, the most potent ozone depleting substances known. In compensation, the seven former producers will receive payment of US$17.3 million from a group of donors organized by the World Bank.

Once one of the world's largest producers of ozone depleting substances, in 1998, Russia accounted for half the world's production capacity of CFCs and halons.

Once emitted to the atmosphere, these compounds deplete the stratospheric ozone layer that shields the planet from damaging UV-B radiation, scientific theory and evidence suggests.

Ian Johnson, World Bank vice president for environmentally and socially sustainable development, said, "The end of ozone depleting substance (ODS) production in Russia represents a major milestone in international efforts to eliminate substances destroying the world's stratospheric ozone layer."

Low Arctic ozone level Winter 1999-2000. (Images courtesy NASA )

This triggered disbursement of the final US$17.3 million payment on August 6. The World Bank will maintain monitoring of the former producers for the next five years.

Ten donor countries and the Global Environment Facility provide funds for the World Bank organized Special Initiative for ODS Production Closure, making possible the compensation payment to the seven Russian enterprises for their production shut down.

This payment brings to $25 million the group's total compensation to Russian enterprises. Donor countries are Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States.

"The ending of ODS production in Russia completes the phase out of CFCs and halons in developed countries as required by the Montreal Protocol," says Michael Harris, chairman of the Special Initiative Technical Review Group.

Antarctic ozone hole on September 17, 2001

The protocol stipulates that the production and consumption of compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere - chlorofluorocarbons, halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform - are to be phased out by 2000, with a deadline of 2005 for methyl chloroform.

CFCs, along with other chlorine and bromine compounds, have been implicated in the accelerated depletion of ozone in the Earth's stratosphere.

CFCs are non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-reactive with other chemical compounds. They were developed in the early 1930s for industrial, commercial, and household applications - as coolants for commercial and home refrigeration units, aerosol propellants, electronic cleaning solvents, and blowing agents.

Not until 1973 was chlorine found to be a catalytic agent in ozone destruction. Catalytic destruction of ozone removes the odd oxygen species [atomic oxygen (O) and ozone (O3)] while leaving chlorine unaffected. This process was known to be potentially damaging to the ozone layer, but conclusive evidence of stratospheric ozone loss was not discovered until 1984.

Polar ozone depletion over Antarctica - the ozone hole - was announced in March 1985, and two years later the Montreal Protocol was signed to limit the emission of ozone depleting substances. The protocol is often cited as an example of a successful environmental effort because many of its targeted objectives are being accomplished.

The World Bank hopes to use the experience gained through the Special Initiative in Russia to accelerate the phase out of ozone depleting substances throughout the developing world.

"The powerful combination of international funding and international technical expertise provides a successful model for other global environmental projects," the bank said.