Awards to Australian organisations at the 19th Meeting of Parties of the Montreal Protocol
At the 19th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol this month in Canada, Australian organisations are receiving awards in recognition and celebration of their contributions to preserving the ozone layer.
Sunday 16 September - International Ozone Day celebrations
The Cancer Council of Australia - award from the UNEP Ozone Secretariat for its public awareness work related to highlighting the impact of high levels of UV on human cancers and skin.
The highly successful 'Slip! Slop! Slap!' campaign ('Slip on a shirt, Slop on sunscreen and Slap on a hat'), developed in 1980 by the Cancer Council Victoria and taken up by Cancer Councils Australia-wide, has been a theme of many campaigns and is still well recognised by Australians in relation to sun protection. It focussed on reducing the harm of skin cancer by reducing exposure to UV radiation and increasing early detection.
Complementary to the work done on ozone depletion issues in the 1980s and 1990s, the campaign informed the public of the impact of UV rays, the importance of protecting against UV and the link between UV exposure and skin cancer.
Monday 17 September - Opening of the high-level segment of the meeting
The Department of the Environment and Water Resources - Bilateral Implementing Agency award from the UNEP Ozone Secretariat for its work in helping developing countries phase out and control their uses of ozone depleting substances. Australia has implemented a number of bilateral projects to help countries specifically in the Asia-Pacific region.
Monday 17 September - High-level event and reception
Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) - award from the UNEP Ozone Secretariat.
Refrigerant Reclaim Australia is the industry funded Environment Trust that was established to recover, reclaim and destroy ozone-depleting refrigerants. Its aim is to reduce the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry's contribution to ozone depletion through reducing the emissions of refrigerants. RRA is one of the most successful organisations of its type globally, and one of Australia's longest operating and most effective producer responsibility organisations.
Since 1993, RRA has taken back more than 1600 tonnes of contaminated and unwanted ozone depleting refrigerant from dedicated contractors and tradespeople through a nationwide collection network. By taking back the waste refrigerant, RRA has prevented the potential destruction of approximately 8.7 million tonnes of stratospheric ozone.
Wednesday 19 September - US EPA 'Best of the Best' Awards
Ozone Depleting Substances Management Award
Several Australian government agencies - EPA 'Best-of-the-Best' partnership award for their contribution to global management of ozone depleting substances.
The Australian Government Departments of the Environment and Water Resources, Defence, and the Victorian Government Environment Protection Authority, together with their colleagues from The Netherland and the United States cooperated to collectively manage limited reserves of used halon, a potent ozone depleting substance, to ensure its continued availability for critical uses for the next 20-30 years.
In 1993, the Australian Government established the National Halon Bank to collect and destroy surplus halon using an innovative plasma arc destruction machine developed by the CSIRO. A commercial fee was charged for disposal by large businesses and military organisations, but was waived for small business and individuals. With technical advice and assistance from the US Department of Defense, the National Halon Bank has also reclaimed and set aside a strategic stockpile to meet anticipated use of halon to 2030 and has made surpluses available to assist regional countries meet their requirements.
The Department of the Environment and Water Resources will also be receiving a UNEP Partnership award along with its US and Dutch partners for its halon management at a reception being hosted by the UNEP Ozone Secretariat on 20th September.
The Australian Methyl Bromide Phaseout Team
The Victorian Government Department of Primary Industries (DPI) - an award for work on finding and implementing alternatives to methyl bromide, an effective, but highly ozone depleting fumigant. The research carried out by the Victorian DPI has formed the basis for alternatives being adopted by the agricultural industry, both in Australia and overseas, in the last ten years.
See also
- More about the Montreal Protocol
- Presentations made at the 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol seminar
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