Vietnam strives to protect the ozone layer

Starting from January 1, 2010, all CFCs (clorofluorocarbon) degrade ozone layer will be banned from importing into Vietnam.

That is the information of the Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) said that this morning (September 11, 2009), during the press meeting on the occasion of the International Day of Protection ozone September 16, 2009.

The amount of using HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbon, depleting ozone layer) in Vietnam today is about 3,000 tons and still increasing in the near future.

The HCFC used in Vietnam is mainly R-22 in refrigeration and air conditioning, R-141b in the production of insulating panel foam and insulation sheet. According to estimates of scientists, Vietnam needs about 20 million USD within 15-20 years to completely eliminate the use of HCFCs.

Mr. Luong Duc Khoa - coordinator of ozone - presenting the situation of using HCFC in Vietnam (Photo: President)

Efforts to eliminate CFCs and HCFCs demonstrate the full compliance with the provisions of the Montreal Protocol of Vietnam (the decree regulates the complete elimination of ozone depleting substances that Vietnam approved in 1994).

The roadmap for elimination of HCFCs is as follows: in 2009, Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change together with the World Bank collected information on quantity and field of using HCFC in Vietnam. In 2010, coordinating to build projects to seek international funding for enterprises, the project will be implemented in 2011.