Environmental Studies
(Case Study)
Status of the Phase-Out of Production and
Consumption of Ozone-Depleting Substances
by India
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INTRODUCTION:-
Ozone-depleting substances (ODS) are man-made
gases that destroy ozone in the upper atmosphere.
The ozone layer protects all life from harmful
ultraviolet radiation. ODS are generally very stable
in the troposphere and only degrade under intense
ultraviolet light in the stratosphere. They have been
largely phased out throughout Europe, but can still
be found in older equipment.
Phasing out ODS is important because it protects
the ozone layer and prevents harmful ultraviolet
radiation from reaching the Earth's surface. The
ozone layer acts as a natural filter, absorbing most
of the sun's ultraviolet rays.
India has been a party to the Montreal Protocol
since 1992. India's ODS levels peaked in 1999. In
2000, the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation
and Control) Rules came into effect, prohibiting the
production and consumption of ODS. India has
phased out four major chemicals: CFCs, CTC, Halons,
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
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Chapter 1: Historical Perspective
India's early use of ODS can be traced back to the
1960s and early 1970s. These substances were
mainly used in: Refrigeration, Air-conditioning,
Foam manufacturing, Aerosols.
India became a signatory to the Montreal Protocol
in 1992. India is an Article 5 country and is entitled
to assistance from the Multilateral Fund in its efforts
to phase out ODSs and switch over to non-ODS
technologies.
India's involvement in the ODS issue includes:
1.Joining the Vienna Convention in 1991.
2.Preparing a Country Program (CP) in 1993 to
phase out ODSs without economic burden to
consumers and industry.
3.Building two ODS reclamation facilities in
Bengaluru and Chandigarh.
4.Introducing a licensing system in 1996.
5.Banning trade in ODS with non-party countries.
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Chapter 2: Ozone Layer and Its Depletion
The ozone layer is a region of the Earth's
stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun's
ultraviolet radiation. It's located 15 to 35 kilometers
above the Earth's surface. The ozone layer contains
less than 10 parts per million of ozone, which is a
high concentration compared to other parts of the
atmosphere.
The main causes of ozone depletion are
manufactured chemicals. These chemicals are
known as ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
Ozone depletion affects: Aquatic life,
Biogeochemical cycles, Air quality, Global warming.
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Chapter 3: International Agreements and
Commitments
The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the
Ozone Layer is a treaty that was adopted in 1985
and entered into force in 1988. The treaty provides
a framework for international cooperation to
protect the ozone layer.
India has obligations under the Montreal Protocol,
which regulates the production, use, consumption,
and transboundary movement of ozone-depleting
substances (ODSs). India's per capita consumption
of ODSs is less than 0.3 kg, so it falls under Article-5
countries. This means that India was granted an
extra ten years to comply with the Protocol.
India's commitments under ODS include:
1.Phasing out the production and consumption of
chlorofluorocarbons, carbon tetrachloride,
halons, methyl bromide, and methyl chloroform
2.Phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons
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Chapter 4: National Legislation and Policies
The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and
Control) Rules, 2000 were enacted in July 2000
under the Environment (Protection) Act. These rules
regulate the:
1.Manufacture, trading, import, and export of
ODSs and ODS-containing products.
2.Registration of producers, purchasers, sellers,
importers, and exporters of ozone-depleting
substances with the relevant MoEF officials.
3.Reclamation and destruction of ODSs with the
MoEF.
4.Reprocessing and upgrading of a recovered
ozone depleting substance through methods
such as filtering, drying, distillation, and
chemical treatment
The Central Government published the rules and
their amendments in the Gazette of India. India
introduced the licensing system in 1996, based on
recommendation of the Meeting of Parties at
Geneva in 1995.
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Chapter 5: Phasing Out ODS in Key Sectors
Many refrigerants that are commonly used in
refrigeration and air conditioning systems are
ozone-depleting substances ( ODS. ODS include
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), halons, methyl
bromide, carbon tetrachloride,
hydrobromofluorocarbons, chlorobromomethane,
and methyl chloroform.
In 1994, the United States banned the sale and
distribution of foam products containing CFCs and
HCFCs, except for insulating foams. In 2020, India
banned the use of HCFC-141b in the foam
manufacturing industry.
India has successfully achieved the complete phase
out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141 b,
which is a chemical used by foam manufacturing
enterprises and one of the most potent ozone
depleting chemical after Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
.
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Chapter 6: Technological Advancements and
Alternatives
The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty that
aims to phase out the production and consumption
of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). The Montreal
Protocol Multilateral Fund (MP-MLF) was
established in 1991 to help developing countries
transition away from ODS. The GEF has also
supported projects that have transferred new
technologies, enhanced recycling operations, and
provided training to reduce ODS use.
The Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund (MP-MLF)
was established in 1991 to assist developing
countries transition away from ODS. The GEF has
also supported 30 projects that have transferred
new technologies, enhanced recycling operations,
and provided training to reduce ODS use in these
countries.
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Chapter 7: Monitoring and Reporting
India's air quality monitoring began in 1984 using
manual stations. The CPCB's National Ambient Air
Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) Network started in
1984-85 and covers 344 cities/towns in 29 states
and 6 UTs.
India has successfully phased out the production
and consumption of ODS. India phased out these
substances for controlled uses by January 1, 2010.
The Montreal Protocol has phased out 98% of
ozone-depleting substances (ODS) globally
compared to 1990 levels. The phasing out of ODS
has prevented up to an additional 2.5°C
temperature increase by the end of this century. It
has also protected humans from harmful ultraviolet
radiation.
Some examples of ODS that have been phased out
include: Chlorofluorocarbons, Carbon tetrachloride,
Halons, Methyl bromide, Methyl chloroform.
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Chapter 8: Challenges and Roadblocks
India, like many other countries, faces economic
challenges related to addressing issues associated
with ozone depletion and the protection of the
ozone layer. The primary international agreement
addressing ozone-depleting substances is the
Montreal Protocol, which aims to phase out the
production and consumption of such substances.
India is a signatory to this protocol and has made
progress in phasing out ozone-depleting substances.
In India, as in many other countries, there have
been roadblocks and challenges in efforts to address
the issue of ozone depletion and comply with
international agreements such as the Montreal
Protocol. These roadblocks can hinder the phase-
out of ozone-depleting substances and the
protection of the ozone layer.
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Future Outlook :-
The Montreal Protocol is a global agreement that
aims to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the
production and consumption of ozone-depleting
substances (ODS). The EU is actively phasing out
ODS in line with its commitment under the
Montreal Protocol. In 2022, the EU Member States'
production and use of these substances was lower
than the amounts that were destroyed and
exported.
To date, the Parties to the Protocol have phased out
98% of ODS globally compared to 1990 levels. The
phase-out of ODS under the Montreal Protocol has
contributed and will continue to contribute to the
mitigation of climate change.
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Success Stories and Case Studies :-
India has successfully achieved the complete phase
out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141 b,
which is a chemical used by foam manufacturing
enterprises and one of the most potent ozone
depleting chemical after Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
.(HCFC)-141 b is used mainly as a blowing agent in
the production of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams.
India has consciously chosen a path for environment
friendly and energy efficient technologies while
phasing out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs).
Importantly, India is one among the few countries
globally and a pioneer in some cases in the use of
technologies, which are non-Ozone Depleting and
have a low Global Warming Potential (GWP).
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India had proactively and successfully taken the
challenge of complete phase out of
Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141 b, which is a
chemical used by foam manufacturing enterprises
by 1.1.2020. On 31 December, 2019, as part of the
Government’s commitment for moving towards
environment friendly technologies, in a significant
first, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEFCC) brought out a notification
in the Gazette of India through which the issuance
of import license for HCFC-141b is prohibited from
1st January, 2020 under Ozone Depleting
Substances (Regulation and Control) Amendment
Rules, 2019 issued under the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986.
HCFC-141b is not produced in the country and all
the domestic requirements are met through
imports. With this notification, prohibiting the
import of HCFC-141 b, the country has completely
phased out the important ozone depleting chemical.
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Simultaneously, the use of HCFC-141 b by foam
manufacturing industry has also been closed as on
1st January, 2020 under the Ozone Depleting
Substances (Regulation and Control) Amendment
Rules, 2014.
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Public Awareness and Education :-
Coordinating awareness-raising efforts with events
such as International Ozone Day or national
environment weeks will maximize interest and
media coverage. If your objective is to sensitize
beach- goers of the health risks of sunbathing, then
the summer is a good time to communicate this
message.
Avoid the consumption of gases dangerous to the
ozone layer, due to their content or manufacturing
process. Some of the most dangerous gases are
CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), halogenated
hydrocarbon, methyl bromide and nitrous oxide.
The Montreal Protocol is a global agreement to
protect the Earth's ozone layer by phasing out the
chemicals that deplete it. The landmark agreement
entered into force in 1989 and it is one of the most
successful global environmental agreements.
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Social and Humanitarian Aspects :-
Ozone layer depletion increases the amount of UVB
that reaches the Earth’s surface. Laboratory and
epidemiological studies demonstrate that UVB
causes non-melanoma skin cancer and plays a major
role in malignant melanoma development. In
addition, UVB has been linked to the development
of cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens.
Because all sunlight contains some UVB, even with
normal stratospheric ozone levels, it is always
important to protect your skin and eyes from the
sun. See a more detailed explanation of health
effects linked to UVB exposure.
EPA uses the Atmospheric and Health Effects
Framework model to estimate the health benefits of
stronger ozone layer protection under the Montreal
Protocol. Updated information on the benefits of
EPA’s efforts to address ozone layer depletion is
available in a 2015 report, Updating Ozone
Calculations and Emissions Profiles for Use in the
Atmospheric and Health Effects Framework Model.
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Phytoplankton form the foundation of aquatic food
webs. Phytoplankton productivity is limited to the
euphotic zone, the upper layer of the water column
in which there is sufficient sunlight to support net
productivity. Exposure to solar UVB radiation has
been shown to affect both orientation and motility
in phytoplankton, resulting in reduced survival rates
for these organisms. Scientists have demonstrated a
direct reduction in phytoplankton production due to
ozone depletion-related increases in UVB.
UVB radiation has been found to cause damage to
early developmental stages of fish, shrimp, crab,
amphibians, and other marine animals. The most
severe effects are decreased reproductive capacity
and impaired larval development. Small increases in
UVB exposure could result in population reductions
for small marine organisms with implications for the
whole marine food chain.
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Conclusion :-
In conclusion, India's progress in the phase-out of
ODS is a testament to the nation's commitment to
environmental protection and its ability to
overcome challenges. The achievements,
challenges, and lessons learned are valuable not
only for India but for the global community. As India
continues to work diligently towards its
environmental goals, it offers a shining example of
responsible environmental management in a
complex and interconnected world.
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