STATEMENT OF KENYA
AT THE 9TH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE VIENNA CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE OZONE LAYER AND THE 23RD MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER, BALI, INDONESIA
HIGH – LEVEL SEGMENT
24 – 25 NOVEMBER, 2011
Mr. President,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen
I would like to express on behalf of the Government of Kenya and my delegation a special thanks to the Government of Indonesia for hosting this Ninth meeting of the Conference and the Twenty – Third Meeting of the Parties in Bali, for its warm welcome and pleasant hospitality to my delegation.
I would also like to thank the Ozone Secretariat for its excellent work in organizing and ensuring that this meeting gets on smoothly.
Mr. President
Kenya has made considerable progress in phasing out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) in most applications. However, there are challenges that need to be addressed collectively at the global level to ensure that when one environmental problem is being solved, it does not lead to a creation of another environmental issue. I am saying this Mr. President considering that some alternatives to ozone depleting substances have high global warming potential (GWP) that have detrimental effects on the climate system. These alternatives are HFCs, whichare used as substitutes to HCFCs. It should be recognized that the suitability of alternatives should be evaluated holistically to avoid a situation where the alternatives solve one environmental problem and contribute to another environmental problem.
Further, some of the technologies being adopted to reduce the use of methyl bromide are also becoming a challenge in terms of disposal. For instance, in Kenya, the use of readily available inert materials such as pumice has become a problem as it is being heaped after use without any proper disposal methods.
In order to deal with these challenges without sacrificing obligations under the Montreal Protocol, distinguished delegates, there is need to encourage and promote close cooperation with other international Conventions and Protocols.
Mr. President
One and a half months ago, GIZ Proklima in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources organized a training course on safe use of hydrocarbons refrigerants as substitutes to HFCs, for 23 trainers in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors. These trainers would conduct trainings in the country to build capacity of the technicians in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors. This is one of the steps Kenya is gearing towards in the phase out of HCFCs and HFCs with high global warming potentials.
Mr. President
Some of the most important aspects that are of concern to our Government include reliable, available, energy saving, and affordable ozone friendly alternatives that are also friendly to the climate.Kenya, in the past has experienced natural disasters linked to climate change, and this has made our Government to seek indulgence with the global community to adopt ozone friendly technologies as well as climate friendly alternatives. Kenya believes that acknowledging synergies with other Multilateral Environmental Agreements that address challenges posed by alternatives to ozone depleting substances would strengthen the Montreal Protocol.
Mr. President
Kenya is aware that financial assistance to Article 5 Parties (Developing Countries) has contributed to the success of the Montreal Protocol in that, the use of the Multilateral Fund has assisted in the phase out of ozone depleting substances under Phase out projects approved by the Executive Committee, following the control measures under the Protocol schedules. In order therefore, to maintain the success of the Article 5 Parties in fulfilling their obligations under the Montreal Protocol, Kenya feels that it is important that the Multilateral Fund is availed and used efficiently to ensure compliance with the Protocol, and that capacity building in Article 5 Parties is sustained.
Mr. President
In conclusion, I wish to express our strong commitment and support to the successful implementation of the Montreal Protocol requirements.Kenya has ratified all the amendments except the Beijing Amendment. I am pleased to inform this meeting that the Government of Kenya looks forward to ratify the Beijing Amendment as soon as possible.
Once again, I thank the Government of Indonesia and the Ozone Secretariat for the well organized Ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention and the Twenty-Third Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol.
THANK YOU
1