Total ban on CFCs by Europe: effort to save ozone layer – archive, 1989
Total ban on CFCs by Europe: end-of-century deadline on effort to save ozone layerBy John Palmer3 March 1989BrusselsThe European Community yesterday took a big step in defence of the world’s threatened ozone layer by agreeing to a complete ban on the production of a range of chlorofluorocarbon industrial gases (CFCs) by 2000.The decision is bound to increase international pressure for a world-wide agreement to outlaw the gases, whose use is eroding the ozone layer and threatening to heat the Earth’s atmosphere.Lord Caithness, the British environment minister, who came to Brussels to support an 85% ban, found that the other EEC governments wanted to go further. The meeting agreed to press for 85% cent ‘as soon as possible’ but to seek a 100% ban by the end of the century.Mrs Thatcher is to make a personal appeal for action to reduce CFCs at an international conference on the ozone layer she has called in London this weekend. On BBC Television last night, she said Britain would require all new cars to be adapted to use unleaded petrol by 1990, a policy agreed to earlier this year by the European Community against initial British objections.She added that companies would be stopped from using CFCs in refrigerators and that a £1.4bn scheme to eliminate sewage sludge pollution of beaches should be complete by 1995.Lord Caithness at first resisted demands for a 95% ban, which was pressed for by some countries. He argued that the scientific evidence supported a figure of 85%. But after consultations with London, he agreed to a suggestion by the Spanish presidency of the Council of Ministers of a total ban on all CFCs identified by the Montreal Conference of 1987 as a threat to the ozone layer.‘My first reaction to the suggestion of a 95% ban was that this was an emotional response based on a desire to go beyond the 85% figure suggested by the scientists,’ Lord Caithness said. ‘It is not true that we were hesitant about agreeing to a 100% ban, however, although I was surprised at the views expressed by some ministers here today. I am very pleased about the decision, which is a major step forward.’Diplomats from other EEC delegations said they had the impression that the British Government had been caught unawares by the pressure for tougher action.Apart from their use as propellants for aerosols, CFCs are also used in the manufacture of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems and in plastics used for insulation, packaging and foam-filled furniture. A number of safer CFCs, which have not been included in the Montreal Protocol, may be used in future for these purposes, while gases such as butane and pentane can also be employed as substitutes.The EEC countries will now argue for the 100% ban on the most dangerous CFCs when the Montreal Protocol is reviewed at Helsinki next year. Only 40 nations have endorsed the protocol, which calls for a 50% ban.Despite the agreement on CFCs yesterday, Mrs Thatcher is unlikely to attend the international environment protection conference called by the Dutch, French and Norwegian governments in The Hague next week. She is reported to have been angered because The Hague gathering was so close to her own conference in London.John Ardill adds:Britain’s main CFC manufacturer, ICI, which wants a complete phase-out as soon as alternatives are available, said yesterday that an 85% cut could be achieved by about the turn of the century. ICI was announcing a 50% cut in the amount of CFCs used to make the insulated linings of refrigerators. In addition, it expects to have an alternative to CFCs as refrigerator coolants on the market by 1991.Similar technologies are being evaluated for building insulation, and efforts are being made to reduce CFCs in the foams used in car seats. Friends of the Earth welcomed the EEC decision as ‘a great step forward’ but argued that production of the main CFCs could be ended by 1992.Bush joins Europe in phased CFC banJohn Ardlill and Tim Radford 4 March 1989President Bush has ordered the United States to join its European allies in phasing out the use of ozone-depleting chemicals by the end of the century. The new American position will be presented by Mr William Reilly, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, at an international conference opening tomorrow in London, the White House spokesman, Mr Marlin Fitzwater said.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to This is EuropeThe most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environmentPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionMore than 100 nations are to attend the meeting, called to discuss the ozone layer crisis. They will be urged to ban chlorofluorocarbon gases and related chemicals totally by the mid-1990s. British aerosol manufacturers promised yesterday that 90 per cent of their output will be free of the gases by the end of this year – reducing the world’s consumption by about 5%. A declaration being thrashed out by Green pressure group leaders who are to attend the conference will also demand substantial aid to Third World countries to convert to safer substances. This would be funded by a tax on the big prof-its which the Green groups say manufacturers will make fromThe conference, called by Mrs Thatcher, is aimed at persuading Third World countries to join the Montreal Protocol, the agreement to halve CFC output by 1999. On Thursday, the EEC decided to seek a ban by the end of the century. The Green pressure group leaders, meeting as a “citizens’ conference”, are discussing a draft declaration on a ban by 1995. (This is an edited extract).EEC official vows to speed ozone fightBy John Ardill and Tim Radford6 March 1989The New European Commissioner for the environment yesterday announced his determination to force the pace of efforts to save the ozone layer.In a personal move at the international conference in London on the ozone layer, Mr Carlo Ripa di Meana declared that he wanted EEC member states to bring forward their deadline for phasing out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), the gases which destroy the ozone, from the end of the century to 1996-97.Mr Ripa di Meana said: ‘That timetable can be met but it will require total commitment and concerted cooperation between government and industry.’Seven nations yesterday also pledged to sign the Montreal Protocol which limits the use of CFCs: Poland, Hungary, Zambia, Trinidad, Austria, the Philippines and Malaysia. Mr Ripa di Meana intends to press for financial aid and technology transfer to the Third World countries, backed by Community-wide controls of CFC exports to countries which do not sign the Protocol.Lord Caithness, the Environment Minister, last night announced the setting up of a government centre in Cambridge to coordinate research into the ozone layer in Europe. It would be partly funded by the EEC.(This is an edited extract).
In March 1989, the European Community agreed to a complete ban on the production of a range of chlorofluorocarbon industrial gases By John Palmer3 March 1989 Continue reading...
Total ban on CFCs by Europe: end-of-century deadline on effort to save ozone layer
By John Palmer
3 March 1989
Brussels
The European Community yesterday took a big step in defence of the world’s threatened ozone layer by agreeing to a complete ban on the production of a range of chlorofluorocarbon industrial gases (CFCs) by 2000.
The decision is bound to increase international pressure for a world-wide agreement to outlaw the gases, whose use is eroding the ozone layer and threatening to heat the Earth’s atmosphere.
Lord Caithness, the British environment minister, who came to Brussels to support an 85% ban, found that the other EEC governments wanted to go further. The meeting agreed to press for 85% cent ‘as soon as possible’ but to seek a 100% ban by the end of the century.
Mrs Thatcher is to make a personal appeal for action to reduce CFCs at an international conference on the ozone layer she has called in London this weekend. On BBC Television last night, she said Britain would require all new cars to be adapted to use unleaded petrol by 1990, a policy agreed to earlier this year by the European Community against initial British objections.
She added that companies would be stopped from using CFCs in refrigerators and that a £1.4bn scheme to eliminate sewage sludge pollution of beaches should be complete by 1995.
Lord Caithness at first resisted demands for a 95% ban, which was pressed for by some countries. He argued that the scientific evidence supported a figure of 85%. But after consultations with London, he agreed to a suggestion by the Spanish presidency of the Council of Ministers of a total ban on all CFCs identified by the Montreal Conference of 1987 as a threat to the ozone layer.
‘My first reaction to the suggestion of a 95% ban was that this was an emotional response based on a desire to go beyond the 85% figure suggested by the scientists,’ Lord Caithness said. ‘It is not true that we were hesitant about agreeing to a 100% ban, however, although I was surprised at the views expressed by some ministers here today. I am very pleased about the decision, which is a major step forward.’
Diplomats from other EEC delegations said they had the impression that the British Government had been caught unawares by the pressure for tougher action.
Apart from their use as propellants for aerosols, CFCs are also used in the manufacture of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems and in plastics used for insulation, packaging and foam-filled furniture. A number of safer CFCs, which have not been included in the Montreal Protocol, may be used in future for these purposes, while gases such as butane and pentane can also be employed as substitutes.
The EEC countries will now argue for the 100% ban on the most dangerous CFCs when the Montreal Protocol is reviewed at Helsinki next year. Only 40 nations have endorsed the protocol, which calls for a 50% ban.
Despite the agreement on CFCs yesterday, Mrs Thatcher is unlikely to attend the international environment protection conference called by the Dutch, French and Norwegian governments in The Hague next week. She is reported to have been angered because The Hague gathering was so close to her own conference in London.
John Ardill adds:Britain’s main CFC manufacturer, ICI, which wants a complete phase-out as soon as alternatives are available, said yesterday that an 85% cut could be achieved by about the turn of the century. ICI was announcing a 50% cut in the amount of CFCs used to make the insulated linings of refrigerators. In addition, it expects to have an alternative to CFCs as refrigerator coolants on the market by 1991.
Similar technologies are being evaluated for building insulation, and efforts are being made to reduce CFCs in the foams used in car seats. Friends of the Earth welcomed the EEC decision as ‘a great step forward’ but argued that production of the main CFCs could be ended by 1992.
Bush joins Europe in phased CFC ban
John Ardlill and Tim Radford
4 March 1989
President Bush has ordered the United States to join its European allies in phasing out the use of ozone-depleting chemicals by the end of the century. The new American position will be presented by Mr William Reilly, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, at an international conference opening tomorrow in London, the White House spokesman, Mr Marlin Fitzwater said.
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More than 100 nations are to attend the meeting, called to discuss the ozone layer crisis. They will be urged to ban chlorofluorocarbon gases and related chemicals totally by the mid-1990s. British aerosol manufacturers promised yesterday that 90 per cent of their output will be free of the gases by the end of this year – reducing the world’s consumption by about 5%. A declaration being thrashed out by Green pressure group leaders who are to attend the conference will also demand substantial aid to Third World countries to convert to safer substances. This would be funded by a tax on the big prof-its which the Green groups say manufacturers will make from
The conference, called by Mrs Thatcher, is aimed at persuading Third World countries to join the Montreal Protocol, the agreement to halve CFC output by 1999. On Thursday, the EEC decided to seek a ban by the end of the century. The Green pressure group leaders, meeting as a “citizens’ conference”, are discussing a draft declaration on a ban by 1995.
(This is an edited extract).
EEC official vows to speed ozone fight
By John Ardill and Tim Radford
6 March 1989
The New European Commissioner for the environment yesterday announced his determination to force the pace of efforts to save the ozone layer.
In a personal move at the international conference in London on the ozone layer, Mr Carlo Ripa di Meana declared that he wanted EEC member states to bring forward their deadline for phasing out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), the gases which destroy the ozone, from the end of the century to 1996-97.
Mr Ripa di Meana said: ‘That timetable can be met but it will require total commitment and concerted cooperation between government and industry.’
Seven nations yesterday also pledged to sign the Montreal Protocol which limits the use of CFCs: Poland, Hungary, Zambia, Trinidad, Austria, the Philippines and Malaysia. Mr Ripa di Meana intends to press for financial aid and technology transfer to the Third World countries, backed by Community-wide controls of CFC exports to countries which do not sign the Protocol.
Lord Caithness, the Environment Minister, last night announced the setting up of a government centre in Cambridge to coordinate research into the ozone layer in Europe. It would be partly funded by the EEC.
(This is an edited extract).