Statements and Speeches

Private Sector Contributes to Indonesia's Ozone Depleting Substances Phase-out

Addressed by Gwi-Yeop Son, Country Director UNDP

Jakarta, 8 September 2005

HE. State Minister of Environment, Mr. Rachmat Witoelar

Distinguished guests Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to be here at the hand-over equipments ceremony to servicing and training establishments in Jakarta, marking private sector and government partnership in saving our ozone layer.

I would like to join the Minister in welcoming you all to this important event and also thanking in particular the Ministry of Environment Office who has been continuously supporting and coordinating the ozone layer protection programme. I would like also to congratulate the project staff who have made this important activity possible.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A couple of days from now, September 16th is recognized around the world as International Day for Preservation of Ozone Layer, commemorating the day the Montreal Protocol signed in 1987 on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

As one of the signatories of the Montreal Protocol, the Government of Indonesia ratified the Protocol in 1992, and committed to phase-out the CFCs by the end of 2007.

As we already know, the ozone layer plays a critical role for our health and well-being. It filters sunlight, prevents the adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface and preserves life on the planet. Our ozone layer is currently depleting due to, among others, CFCs. CFCs are man-made chemicals that if released into the air can rapidly decline the presence of ozone in the stratosphere, with potential negative impacts of widespread eye cataracts, increased incident of skin cancers, slower growth of plants and crops.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

To achieve the CFCs phase-out target by the end of 2007, Indonesia has carried out a number of country-driven programmes. Funds for the above-mentioned programme is provided on a grant basis from the Multilateral Fund, for which UNDP acts as one of the Implementing Agencies, beside the World Bank and UNIDO.

In the refrigeration sector, UNDP is supporting the Government of Indonesia to phase-out approximately 2,250 metric tonnes of CFCs by the end of 2007 with more than US$ 11 millions grant from Multilateral Fund. Out of this 2,250 metric tonnes, about 50% has been successfully phased-out.

Furthermore, UNDP together with the Ministry of Environment has distributed recovery and recycling equipments to 188 servicing workshops in Indonesia, to phase-out more than 50 MT of CFCs. The same equipments were also given to 60 training institutions to be used as demonstration tools in refrigeration technician training purposes.

Today, the signing of the Statement of Completion (SOC) for 36 servicing workshops and 19 training institutions in Jakarta is the concrete evidence shown by the companies in their effort towards reducing CFCs consumptions in the country. It is hoped that the above-mentioned companies are responsible for the optimal use of the equipment.

In closing, UNDP is pleased to be a part of this important endeavour and will continue to provide support to Indonesia as we move ahead to achieve the target date of 2007.

On behalf of UNDP, I would like to once again convey our thanks to His Excellency State Minister of Environment, Mr. Rachmat Witoelar for your strong leadership in working towards the phase-out of ozone depleting substances.

Thank you.