UNEP Wins 2005
Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award
May 04, 2005 — By UN Environment Programme
WASHINGTON/PARIS — For the first time ever a United Nations programme, the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has won the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award.
The prestigious prize, presented today here in Washington DC, has been awarded
to the Paris-based OzonAction Branch of UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry
and Economics.
Announcing the Award, the US EPA praised the "leadership and innovation of
the OzonAction Programme" and said it has benefited well over 140 countries
through its unique regional networks of National Ozone Units and global
information clearinghouse.
"The appreciation of the award panel highlighting UNEP's leadership and
innovation is not only rewarding but also encouraging for our further
work", said Klaus Toepfer, UNEP Executive Director. "The Montreal
Protocol is succeeding in its objective of phasing out the global production and
consumption of ozone depleting substances, but there is still much work left to
be done, particularly in developing countries", he said.
"A key factor in the success to date has been financial resources provided
to help implement the Protocol,"said Mr. Toepfer. "In this regard, it
is important that one of the key mechanisms underpinning the treaty, the Global
Environment Facility (GEF), is adequately replenished this year. This will help
ensure that we finish the job, not only for ozone, but also for other global
environmental treaties", he said.
Accepting the award on behalf of UNEP, Rajendra Shende, head of the OzonAction
branch, said, "The award reminds us of what can be achieved when the
commitment of the poorest nations to protect the Earth for future generations is
combined with the resolve of the richest countries to do their part for peace,
prosperity and environmental health. What you get are amazing global success
stories that go beyond conventional thoughts and immensely benefit
humanity."
Global efforts to protect the stratospheric ozone layer were formalised through
an international treaty agreed in 1987 called the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer.
The ozone layer, which absorbs ultraviolet radiation harmful to living organisms
and human health, is in danger from several chemicals currently used in industry
and agriculture such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon
tetrachloride, methyl chloroform and methyl bromide.
"The treaty is bearing fruits", said Mr. Shende. "According to
the best scientific knowledge the chemicals that have been destroying the ozone
layer are now at or near peak, and could begin to dissipate slowly -- if nations
stay the course."
The participation in the effort is almost universal with 189 countries having
ratified the Protocol. And the international agreement is increasingly being
recognized as a rare and important multilateral success story. In his recent
report entitled, "In Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security and
Human Rights for All", UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan described the
Montreal Protocol as an "encouraging example showing how global solutions
can be found."
Since 1991, the OzonAction Programme has provided services that assist
developing countries and countries with economies in transition to achieve and
sustain compliance with the Montreal Protocol.
OzonAction empowers the focal point for this multilateral environmental
agreement (known as National Ozone Units) through an information clearinghouse,
training and regional networking. The programme simplified the messages from the
Protocol's Technology and Economic Assessment Panel to help countries to make
informed decisions about alternative technologies and ozone-friendly policies.
UNEP is one of the four implementing agencies of the Multilateral Fund that was
set-up to assist developing country parties to the Protocol. Over 12 years,
nearly $2 billion has been disbursed to 145 developing countries to enable them
to comply with it.
Note to Editors: The US EPA established the annual Stratospheric Ozone
Protection Award in 1990 to recognize exceptional leadership, personal
dedication, and technical achievements in eliminating ozone-depleting
substances.
Information on the UNEP OzonAction programme can be found at www.unep.fr/en/branches/ozonaction.htm.
For more information, please contact:
Robert Bisset, UNEP Spokesperson in Europe, in Paris, on Tel: +33-1-4437-7613,
Mobile: +33-6-2272-5842, robert.bisset@unep.fr
or
Jim Sniffen, UNEP Information Officer in New York on Tel +1-212-963-8094/8210, sniffen@un.org
or
Eric Falt, Director, Division of Communications and Public Information, in
Nairobi, on Tel: +254-20-623292, Mobile: +254-733-682656, eric.falt@unep.org
or
Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson, on Tel: +254-2-623084, Mobile: +254-733-632755;
nick.nuttall@unep.org