Historic deal reached to cut down dangerous ozone threat

Visit http://www.yourworldtimes.com/... for more informationThe United Nations Environmental Program announced Saturday in Montreal that nearly 200 countries have agreed to move forward on accelerated bans on hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). HCFCs are a major factor in the depletion of the ozone layer and, subsequently, a cause of global warming.UNEP chief Achim Steiner called the agreement, "perhaps the most important breakthrough in an international environment negotiation process for at least five or six years."In the agreement developing countries agreed to freeze HCFC production and consumption of the chemicals in 2013 rather than 2016. They will totally phase out production by 2030.Developed countries are committed to reducing HCFC consumption by 75 percent in 2010, and completely phase out consumption and production by 2020.According to a US government statement, the effect will be to reduce by 47 percent potential emissions of ozone-damaging chemicals into the atmosphere.Steiner praised China -- one of the world's biggest manufacturers and users of HCFCs -- for its support of the negotiations.For more in-depth coverage of this, and the world's other top headlines, visit yourworldtimes.com

Channel: News & Politics
Uploaded: September 24, 2007 at 12:42 am
Author: YourWorldTimes

Length: 01:22
Rating: 4.00
Views: 715

Tags: Bush  Canada  Clinton  Country  Edwards  Global  Green  HCFC  Montreal  Nations  O-Zone  Obama  Pollution  UNEP  United  Warming  World  

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