Tunisia has made headway in reducing chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), a subclass of fluorinated gases and substances that deplete the ozone layer and act as powerful greenhouse gases, according to a press release from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
In a statement issued on Tuesday to mark the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer on 16 September, UNIDO praised the country’s progress in implementing the Montreal Protocol.
According to UNIDO, Tunisia’s climate action in this area, described as an ‘important step forward’, has resulted in the consumption of 325 tonnes of HCFCs in 2023, a 55% reduction compared with the baseline level, equivalent to 723,703 tonnes of CO2.
Tunisia is pursuing its endeavours to reduce HCFCs through a 2024-2029 project implemented by UNIDO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in coordination with the National Ozone Unit (UNO) of the National Environmental Protection Agency (ANPE).
UNIDO also pointed out that Tunisia managed to set up a national certification system for technicians and companies operating in the refrigeration sector, in addition to the conversion of four companies, the elimination of 80.46 tonnes of HCFC-141b (equivalent to 58,332 tonnes of CO2) and the training of 386 technicians in best practices for handling refrigerants.
Some 83 customs officers were also trained to control imports of substances controlled by the Montreal Protocol.
HCFCs are chemical compounds commonly used in foams, refrigeration, aerosols, solvents and air conditioning. These compounds deplete the ozone layer and contribute to climate change.
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer highlights the importance of the ozone layer and the 1987 Montreal Protocol to protect it.
Since 1993, UNIDO, with funding from the Multilateral Fund, has helped more than 100 countries around the world to implement projects aimed at reducing the use of ozone-depleting substances.
By 2023, initiatives under the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment will have prevented the emission of 41 million tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of taking more than 9.2 million cars off the road for a year.
‘Tunisia is forging ahead with the launch of the first phase of the Kigali Amendment, which aims to reduce the use of HFCs by more than 23% between 2024 and 2030,’ said Lassaad Ben Hassine, UNIDO Representative in Tunisia.
He added that successful implementation of the Kigali Amendment, combined with energy efficiency measures, could prevent up to 10°C of global warming by 2100.
Mr Ben Hassine, whose concluding remarks are included in the statement, also stressed the importance of working with other Montreal Protocol agencies, such as UNEP.
‘This kind of cooperation is essential to meet the challenges facing Tunisia and the world. The Montreal Protocol continues to protect people and the planet. UNIDO is committed to providing concrete solutions’, he stressed.
UNIDO Director-General Gerd Müller, also quoted in the press release, said: ‘The Montreal Protocol is a powerful example of successful international cooperation to address global environmental challenges. UNIDO, as the implementing agency, has helped industries around the world to make significant changes to comply with the Montreal Protocol.
Industries have adapted and invested in environmentally friendly technologies, stimulating innovation and job creation while protecting the planet’.
As one of the four implementing agencies of the Montreal Protocol, UNIDO is at the forefront of climate action.
The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which came into force in 2019, aims to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), another powerful class of greenhouse gases that have replaced CFCs.
TunisianMonitorOnline (UNIDO)
