Lesson learned case study: What the history of ozone depelting chemical phaseout may teach us about how to approach international climate change policy
- Conceptual Engineering Group, Inc., Crofton, MD (United States)
- Hughes Associates, Inc., Baltimore, MD (United States)
The world approached the production phaseout of ozone depleting chemicals conservatively under the Vienna Convention. The initial tasks were to recognize the problem within the science field and make political leaders and people aware that the problem existed and was a real threat to environmental stability. Several years later, Meetings of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol to Protect the Stratospheric Ozone Layer began occurring regularly. Long term goals on production reduction levels of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons were set. Rapid acceleration in production phaseout dates were implemented worldwide, impacting industry plans to research, develop, and implement replacements. The impacts were widespread from small cleaning processes to the defense of countries. The trials and tribulations that industries such as the foam, refrigeration, air conditioning, fire protection, and manufacturing industries have gone through to meet the accelerated challenges are great. This fight is not yet over. Alternatives have yet to be fully implemented, long term effects analysis are not yet completed, budgets have not caught up with the rapid phaseout, and supplies of ODCs are dwindling quickly, as well as increasing in cost at a rapid rate. This is being felt from car owner all the way up to the national defense of countries. The paper will briefly describe the historic events and developments that occurred to industry and the users, from a political, environmental, and business perspective. From this, valuable lessons can be learned and we can plan for the future well in advance, in order that we are not caught off guard again. A very real environmental problem exists with global climate change. This is being increasingly recognized by both political leaders and citizens alike. From what we have seen with ODC phaseout, we can potentially project what course the future.
- Research Organization:
- International Climate Change Partnership, Arlington, VA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 577056
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970687-PROC.; ON: DE98003129; TRN: 98:001159-0017
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International climate change conference and technologies exhibition, Baltimore, MD (United States), 12-13 Jun 1997; Other Information: PBD: [1997]; Related Information: Is Part Of Incorporating climate change into corporate business strategies. Conference proceedings; PB: 195 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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