Doha: Qatar will ban ozone-depleting substances by 2010, a statement issued by the environmental authorities said here yesterday.
The Supreme Council for Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR) said the country will soon enact a law to control, reduce and finally phase out all ozone-depleting substance (ODS) in compliance with the United Nation's Montreal Protocol programme of which Qatar is a signatory.
Walid Mohammad Al Emadi, ozone office manager at SCENR, said Qatar was targeting an 85 per cent cut in its current import of ODS by January 2007.
"In 2007, the country will limit its import of ODS to 15 per cent. By 2010, Qatar will totally phase out ODS from the country. Article 16 of the proposed law empowers the authorities to punish violators," he said.
Scientists at the World Meteorological Organisations and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), found clear evidence that chlorofluorocarbons are mainly responsible for depleting the ozone layer, resulting in a dangerous warming of the atmosphere. Chlorofluorocarbons are synthetic compounds used as aerosol propellants, portable fire extinguishers, vehicle air-conditioning units, insulation boards, panels and pipe covers and for domestic and commercial refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump equipment.
According to data available with the UNEP Ozone Secretariat, between 1986 and 2001 Qatar was unable to reduce consumption of such products that stood constantly at 85 metric tonnes per year and above, over the 15-year period.
