Production and consumption of ozone depleting substances

Assessment versions

Published (reviewed and quality assured)

• No published assessments

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

Since the mid 1980s various policy measures have been introduced to limit or phase-out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) in order to protect the stratospheric ozone layer from depletion. This indicator tracks progress towards these objectives of limiting or phasing-out production and consumption of ODS.

ODS mitigation measures typically focus upon controlling the production and consumption of ODS rather than limiting emissions per se. This is because emissions from multiple ODS-consuming small sources are much more difficult to monitor accurately than industrial production and consumption. Consumption is the driver of industrial production. Production and consumption can precede emissions by many years, as emissions generally occur after disposal of those products in which ODS are used (fire-extinguishers, refrigerators, etc.).

Release of ODS to the atmosphere leads to depletion of the earth's ozone layer. The stratospheric ozone layer protects humans and the environment from harmful ultra-violet (UV) radiation emitted by the sun. Ozone is destroyed by chlorine and bromine atoms which are released in the stratosphere from man-made chemicals - including CFCs, halons, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, HCFCs (all anthropogenic chemicals) and methyl chloride and methyl bromide. Depletion of stratospheric ozone leads to increases in ambient ultra-violet radiation at the surface, which has a wide variety of adverse effects on human health, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and food chains.

Scientific references

• UNEP Synthesis report of the 2006 assessments of the Scientific Assessment Panel, the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel
• UNEP Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2010
• UNEP Environmental Effects of Ozone Depletion and its Interactions with Climate Change: 2006 Assessment
• UNEP 2006 Report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel
• WMO GAW Research on Stratospheric Ozone
• UNEP Executive Summary of the Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2010
• Protection of the ozone layer – European Commission, DG Climate Action
• Velders GJM ; Anderson SO ; Daniel JS ; Fahey DW ; McFarland M; ‘The importance of the Montreal Protocol in protecting climate’, PNAS, 2007
• Velders GJM ; Fahey DW ; Daniel JS ; McFarland M; Anderson SO ; ‘The large contribution of projected HFC emissions to future climate forcing’, PNAS, 2009

Indicator definition

This indicator quantifies the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) in Europe. ODS are long-lived chemicals that contain chlorine or/and bromine and that destroy the stratospheric ozone layer.

Units

Tonnes of ODS weighted by their Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP).

Policy context and targets

Context description

Following agreement of the Vienna convention (1985) and the Montreal protocol (1987) and its subsequent amendments and adjustments, policy measures have been taken to limit or phase-out production and consumption of ozone depleting substances in order to protect the stratospheric ozone layer against depletion. This indicator tracks progress towards this limiting or phasing-out production and consumption of ODS.

For the European Union, the ratification rates were the following:

Targets

The international target under the Ozone Conventions and Protocols is the complete phase-out of ODS, according to the schedule below.

Countries falling under Article 5, paragraph 1 of the Montreal Protocol are considered as developing countries under the protocol. Phase-out schedules for Article 5(1) countries are delayed by 10 - 20 years as compared to non-article 5(1) countries.

Summary of phase-out schedule for non-article 5(1) countries, including Beijing adjustments.

Related policy documents

• Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 on substances that deplete the ozone layer
  Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 on substances that deplete the ozone layer (Text with EEA relevance) 
• Regulation (EC) No 2038/2000 amending Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer, as regards metered dose inhalers and medical drug pumps
  Regulation (EC) No 2038/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2000 amending Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer, as regards metered dose inhalers and medical drug pumps 
• Regulation (EC) No 2039/2000 amending Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer, as regards the base year for the allocation of quotas of hydrochlorofluorocarbons
  Regulation (EC) No 2039/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2000 amending Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer, as regards the base year for the allocation of quotas of hydrochlorofluorocarbons
• The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
  The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer: The  Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

The indicator presents production and consumption in units of tonnes of ODS, which is the amount of ODS produced or consumed, multiplied by their respective ozone depleting potential value. The UNEP - Ozone secretariat data are already provided in tonnes of Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP tonnes). All data can be downloaded from http://ozone.unep.org/Data_Access/

How is production and consumption calculated?

http://ozone.unep.org/Frequently_Asked_Questions/faqs_compliance.shtml 

Calculation formulae are defined by Articles 1 and 3 of the Montreal Protocol.

Simple definition:

Consumption = Production + Imports - Exports

Subtract Destroyed amounts

Subtract Feedstock Uses

Exclude Quarantine and Pre-shipment applications for methyl bromide

Include Exports to non-Parties as consumption

Parties report each of the above components annually to the Ozone Secretariat in the official data reporting forms. The Parties do not, however, make the above subtractions and other calculations themselves. The Ozone Secretariat performs this task

Calculated Production = (Production - Feedstock Production - Feedstock Exports - Quarantine Production) - Destroyed

Calculated Consumption = (Production - Feedstock Production - Quarantine Production) + (Imports - Feedstock Imports - Quarantine Imports) - (Exports - Quarantine Exports) - Destroyed + Non Party Exports

Parties that only import ozone-depleting substances, ODS, (that is, they do not produce ODS, use ODS for feedstock, destroy ODS or re-export ODS) will usually have zero annual calculated production of ODS, and their annual calculated consumption will be equal to their imports.

(Feedstock Production is only for internal use)

(Quarantine Production is both for internal use and for export)

Methodology for gap filling

No gap filling takes place.

Methodology references

• Handbook for the International Treaties for the Protection of the Ozone Layer UNEP, 2000
• The Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer as either adjusted and/or amended in London 1990, Copenhagen 1992, Vienna 1995, Montreal 1997, Beijing 1999. UNEP Ozone Secretariat  United Nations Environment Programme

Data specifications

EEA data references

• No datasets have been specified here.

External data references

• Ozone depleting substances data (UNEP - Ozone Secretariat)

Data sources in latest figures

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Data sets uncertainty

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Rationale uncertainty

Policies focuses on the production and consumption of ODS rather than emissions. The reason is that emissions from multiple small sources are much more difficult to monitor accurately than industrial production and consumption. Consumption is the driver for industrial production. Production and consumption can precede emissions by many years, as emissions typically take place after disposal of products in which ODS are used (fire-extinguishers, refrigerators, etc.).

Work description

Resource needs

No resource needs have been specified

Status

Deadline