Australia has a major ozone protection achievement to celebrate for World Ozone Day tomorrow 16 September, 2023.
According to the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) ozone-depleting gases make up less than five per cent of Australia’s refrigerant bank.
World Ozone Day celebrates the anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, and its theme for 2023 is ‘fixing the ozone layer and reducing climate change’.
ARC, which is the national licensing body for the climate control industry, has applauded the efforts of the industry in reaching this milestone in ozone protection.
ARC chief executive officer Glenn Evans said the removal of ozone-depleting substances from the refrigerant bank was a credit to Australia’s 100,000-plus ARCtick licensed climate control technicians and businesses.
“This is a massive contribution to the future health of the planet – the living fulfilment of the Montreal Protocol,” he said.
“ARCtick licensed technicians protect the environment every day by preventing emissions of ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
"The decrease in ozone-depleting substances in the refrigerant bank reflects the increasing destruction of gases such as R22, one of the most common ozone-depleting refrigerants."
More than 120 tonnes of R22 were recovered in 2020-21 and sent for destruction at the Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) plasma arc facility in Melbourne.
Evans said Australia’s achievements in this vital environmental area were built on the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989.
“These great achievements are built on long years of dedicated effort,” he said.
“Since Australia first banned chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in 1996, the climate control industry has moved on to eliminating hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) such as R22, and the achievements speak for themselves.”
The latest update from the scientific assessment panel to the Montreal Protocol confirmed that ozone layer recovery is on track and ozone levels are expected to return to 1980 levels by 2066 over the Antarctic.
By phasing down HFCs, the Kigali Amendment may result in avoidance of up to 0.5°C of warming by 2100. Implementing energy efficiency measures could potentially double this figure.