Yemen confirms commitment to Montreal Protocol [Archives:2007/1049/Local News]
SANA'A, May 8 ) Organized by the Environmental Protection Authority in cooperation with the United Nations Environmental Program, the roundtable meeting of the Ozone Officers network for West Asia (ROWA) took place in Sana'a a few days ago. The discussions focused on the Montreal Protocol, which Yemen ratified in February 1996, and approved its amendment in April 2001.
The formation of the Ozone Officers network for West Asia was approved at the 21st Executive Committee Meeting in 1997. The West Asia region comprises 12 member countries; Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestinian National Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen; all of whom are Party to the Montreal Protocol, with the exception of Iraq, which is in the process of ratifying the Protocol, and the Palestinian National Authority, which submitted its request to become Party, that will be postponed until it becomes recognized as a state by the UN.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning Abdulkarim AL-Arhabi inaugurated the event commenting on the importance of protecting the environment. In addition to the network officers, the round table included authorities from the environment protection authority and minsitry of water and environment as well as local and regional experts. The outcomes of the session include curricula for environmental studies and materials for training. Also, practical steps were recommended for full implementation of the Montreal Protocol.
The Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of a number of substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987 and entered into force on January 1, 1989.
Since then, it has undergone five revisions, in 1990 (London), 1992 (Copenhagen), 1995 (Vienna), 1997 (Montreal), and 1999 (Beijing). Due to its widespread adoption and implementation it has been hailed as an example of exceptional international cooperation with Kofi Annan quoted as saying it is “Perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date…””
The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol provides fund to help developing countries to phase out the use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) which are used in refrigeration
