Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) phase out in the Cook Islands

Why ODS are bad?

The ozone layer is situated in the stratosphere about 10-50km above the Earth and has the important role in protecting the Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation (UV-B). Increased exposure to UV-B radiation intensifies the chance of developing certain types of cancers, especially skin cancer. UV-B radiation also affects marine and terrestrial ecosystems, altering food chains, growth and biochemical cycles. This radiation damages the aquatic life (plankton) residing just below the surface of salt and fresh water, which form the foundation of the Earth's food chain.

ODS in the Cook Islands

It is estimated that since the 1980s, four types of ozone depleting substances have been imported into the Cook Islands in bulk form. These are: chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), methyl bromide, and halons. CFCs and HCFCs are used for refrigeration and air-conditioning, methyl bromide was used for quarantine fumigation, and halons are used for fire protection. Present consumption of most ODS in the Cook Islands is exclusively in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.

Montreal Protocol and the Vienna Convention

The Montreal Protocol is an implementation mechanism under the international agreement the Vienna Convention that is designed to eliminate the production and consumption of harmful ozone depleting substances. Some examples of these substances include chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride and methyl bromide which have many applications including refrigeration, air conditioning, cleaning electronic components, solvents, fire extinguishers, and quarantine and pre-shipment cargo.

Cook Islands and the Montreal Protocol

The Cook Islands became party to the Montreal Protocol on the 22nd December 2003. Prior to this, work done in the country with regards to implementation of the Montreal Protocol were a one-day workshop for government departments and small industrial enterprises conducted by SPREP in 1999. A five-day assessment on the current consumption of ODS was conducted by SPREP and the National Environment Service between August and September 2004. The findings of this assessment were used to develop a National Compliance Action Plan (NCAP) for the Cook Islands, which was completed in October 2004. The lead agency responsible for implementing and managing the NCAP programme will be the National Compliance Centre (NCC) in the National Environment Service. However, given the complexity and cross-sector nature of the plan, it will be necessary for the NCC to collaborate with a number of other agencies and organisations, the principal ones being:

Customs Department

The Customs Department will enforce proposed regulations controlling the importation of ODS. Data recorded of all imports detailing the type and amount of ODS entering the country would be stored at the Customs department under their current arrangements with the Statistics Department and collated by the NCC office for data reporting needs.

Refrigeration technicians

Refrigeration technicians will be involved in the training and certification courses for trainers and future technicians will need to be licensed to handle, capture, and recycle ODS.

The NCC will also work closely with personnel in the National Environment Service dealing with climate change and waste related conventions (Stockholm, POPs, Rotterdam, Basel, Waigani etc) towards a harmonised approach to controlling consumption of and trade in environmentally harmful substances.

Regional Strategy to Implement the Montreal Protocol (on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer) in the Pacific

The Cook Islands ODS Project is the result of an approved "Regional Strategy to Implement the Montreal Protocol (on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer) in the Pacific". The Cook Islands are one of three additional countries (alongside Niue and Nauru) to join the Regional Strategy in 2006. The Regional Strategy is co-coordinated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

Goal: To completely phase-out the use of the most commonly used and harmful ozone depleting substances, CFCs, by the year 2006.

1) To strengthen institutions by establishing National Compliance Centres in all core and additional countries of the Regional Strategy;

2) To establish national controls (regulations, licensing and monitoring systems) on the import of ozone depleting substances;

3) To build capacity through training programmes on "good practices in refrigeration" (for refrigeration technicians) and on "control of ODS imports" (for customs officers).

Action Plan and Projects under the NCAP

In order to ensure the Cook Islands’ compliance with the Montreal Protocol the following Action Plan has been developed.

1. Maintain compliance with the Montreal Protocol while preparing an economically viable accelerated phase-out program.
2. Establish a National Compliance Centre (NCC) office to co-ordinate, implement, and monitor the phase-out program.
3. Prohibit any new activity related to the import, production or use of ODSs in new equipment.
4. Ban of import of ODS-using and ODS-containing equipment (including new and second-hand domestic refrigerators using CFC-12 as the refrigerant).
5. Introduction of controls on the import (and export) of all ODSs (including licensing, taxation and/or quotas as appropriate).
6. Strengthening ODS import/export monitoring program by developing a licensing system.
7. Consideration of a system of fiscal incentives/disincentives in favour of non-ODS alternatives and transitional substances.
8. Implement and monitor training of customs officers to ensure proper control of import and export of ODSs and information collection and submission.
9. Implement and monitor training of refrigeration service technicians on good practices in refrigeration to minimise the use of ODSs and mitigate their emissions into the air    during the service of refrigerators.
10. Conduct public awareness campaign on necessity and means for protection of the Ozone Layer of the Earth and the government’s commitment to phase out ODSs.

Education, training, legislation, regulations and other incentives will ensure that the Cook Islands will continue to meet its obligations under the Montreal Protocol.

Further information

For more information please contact:
Mr Antoine Nia, Environment Officer

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