UNEP to meet city industry heads next year

[ozoneorbit]

In a bid to bring down the emission levels of Hydrochloroflurocatrbons
(HCFC) in the city, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
has shown its intent to initiate a meeting with the CEOs of the
industries in Pune in March 2010. It will probably be the first time
that an international agency like UNEP will be consulting the industry
in the city on protection of environment.



The intent was shown in a conference arranged in the city by UNEP’s
Ozone Action Group as a precursor to the Ozone Day Celebrations to be
arranged on September 16, in cooperation with Maratha Chamber of
Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) and Centre for
Environment Education (CEE) on “International Cooperation in Ozone
Layer Protection and Achieving Ozone Layer Protection with minimum
Green House Gas Emission Impact”.



MCCIA has assured to coordinate with the industries to have a
roundtable conference regarding the issue. “As a progressive city,
Pune can help immensely in protecting Ozone layer depletion as
recommended by Montreal Protocol coming up with alternative
technologies that can help reduce HCFC,” said Atul Bagai, coordinator
of Asia Pacific region of the UNEP.

Bagai said if the industries in the city back the ideas of UNEP it
could be taken up on the larger scale. “Public-private partnership can
help solve the issues related to reduction of HCFC emission easily,”
he said.



“The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer has
now been ratified by all countries in the world. It is a sign that the
world is really concerned about the environment. Now, it is time to
act and that too in right direction,” said Stephen Andersen, co-chair
of Montreal Protocol, Technology and Economy Assessment Panel. He
added that India could play an important role in protecting the Ozone
layer depletion by acting on the action plan.

Dutch environmentalist Guss Velders and director general of MCCIA
Anant Sardeshmukh were also present on the occasion. Representative of
UNEP Vineeta Apte welcomed the guests.