Methyl Bromide Loophole Prolongs Ozone Hole

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And another one

 

 

 

On July 1, 2005 a dozen nations agreed under the Montreal Protocol on Substances

that Deplete the Ozone Layer to reduce exemptions for " critical use " of methyl

bromide by 20% in 2006. Methyl bromide is a powerful ozone depleting chemical,

50 times more destructive to the ozone layer than chlorine from CFCs

(chloroflurocarbons), the other major class of chemicals targeted by the treaty.

In 1987, sixteen industrial nations, including the U.S., agreed under the

Protocol to end all use of methyl bromide by 2005, and developing countries

agreed to end use in 2015. Instead, use of methyl bromide as a soil fumigant

pesticide has increased in the U.S.

The 20% reduction appears to be an environmental victory, but in fact, U.S.

consumption of methyl bromide rose so steeply in 2005 that the 20% " reduction "

represents an increase over 2002-2004 levels.

In 1994, the United Nations determined that elimination of methyl bromide was

the most significant remaining action that nations could take to impact ozone

depletion in the next decade. The Montreal Protocol has nearly eliminated CFCs

and until recently, had sharply reduced methyl bromide use.

In 2004 the US Government began to pressure for " critical use " exemptions

(permission to continue using a substance) for methyl bromide, primarily as a

pre-plant fumigant for tomato growers in Florida and strawberry producers in

California. For the treaty's first decade, critical use exemptions were confined

to needs based on national security or medical uses where there was no

alternative, but in 1997 the Parties to the Protocol allowed economic

considerations to be a factor to justify an exemption for use of methyl bromide.

Instead of completing the methyl bromide phaseout as promised in 2005, sixteen

nations, lead by the U.S., asked for and were granted exemptions for use of

16,050 metric tons in 2005. The U.S. exemptions totaled 9,500 metric tons and

were by far the largest, allowing the nation's use in 2005 to increase. In July

2005 the Parties recommended approval of 13,466 metric tons of methyl bromide

for " critical use " in the developed nations in 2006. Allotments were modest for

Australia (9.25 tons); Canada (2 tons) and Japan (75 tons). The United States

was allowed 8,075 tons; and PAN has learned that the Administration is already

working on a request to continue exemptions in 2007.

 

For more information see the website for the UN Environmental Programme Ozone

Secretariat, http://www.unep.org/ozone/index.asp.

 

Sources: UNEP Report of Second Extraordinary Meeting of the parties to the

Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Advance Copy, July

1, 2005, p.4; Associated Press, July 2, 2005; Background, Critical Use

Exemptions for Access to Methyl Bromide, Dept of the Environment & Heritage,

Australian Government,

http://www.deh.gov.au/atmosphere/ozone/methylbromide/criticaluseexempt.html

 

 

 

Caroline Collard