Page 19 - Climate Control News Magazine March 2021

In Focus
RAC technicians’ greatest repair job is ozone layer
A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION in refriger- ant use by refrigeration and air conditioning technicians has helped to heal the ozone lay- er and reduce global warming, according to a recently released report by the Unit-
ed Nations.
The report Environmental Effects
Assessment Panel: Summary update 2020 for policymakers found that the Montreal Protocol is not only healing the ozone layer, but has re- duced global warming.
The Montreal Protocol is an inter- national environmental agreement
between 197 countries which was the catalyst for the Australian Government to introduce the ARCTick licence scheme back in 2005.
The scheme controls the purchase and use of refrigerants which are ozone de- pleting and synthetic greenhouse gases by ensuring only qualified professionals can work on sys- tems containing these gases. It is managed by the Australian Re-
cent of the global warming that was projected to occur by 2050.
As far back as 2017 the UN recog- nised the refrigeration and air condi- tioning industry was contributing to the health of the ozone layer.
The Australian Government’s ‘State of the Environment Report’ found the work of ARC-licensed busi- nesses and technicians has led to a reduction of 24.37 Megatonnes of CO2-e direct emissions.
ARC CEO, Glenn Evans, said the ARCTick licence scheme will con- tinue to provide significant direct and indirect emissions savings over the next two decades, with further direct emissions reductions esti- mated at 58.02 Mt CO2 projected through to 2030.*
“Whatever way you slice it, licensed technicians are making a positive dif- ference to the environment and the world, and that’s something of which we can all be very proud,” he said.
“RAC technicians’ greatest repair job just might just be the ozone layer.”
Refrigerants Australia executive director, Greg Picker said the transition to more climate- friendly refrigerants by RAC technicians has positively impacted the environment.
At the same time, he said RAC equipment to- day is 60 per cent more efficient that it was at the start of the millennium.
* Expert Group, Assessment of environmental im- pacts f rom the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989, April 2015.
ARC CEO, Glenn Evans.
frigeration Council (ARC).
The report found the continued control of ozone depleting gases will avoid approximately 25 per
CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS MARCH 2021
US JOINS GLOBAL CLIMATE EFFORT
The biggest global shift in climate policy in recent weeks has been a commitment by the United States to commit to the Kigali Amendment.
The Kigali Amendment is a global pact under the Montreal Protocol to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Newly elected US president Joe Biden signed an executive order in his first week in office committing to Kigali.
The president’s quick action on Kigali sends a powerful signal to the world that the US will join the global effort to cut reliance on these high-polluting gases.
Speaking from the white house, Biden said it is time to address climate change with a greater sense of urgency
"In my view, we've already waited too long to deal with this climate crisis and we can't wait any longer. We see it with our own eyes, we feel it, we know it in our bones,” he said adding that the US must lead the global response.
In addition to the Kigali Amendment, Biden has freezed new oil and gas leases on public lands and offshore waters and is reviewing fossil fuel development.
The president's executive order sets a goal of conserving at least 30 per cent of land and water by 2030.
Through his executive actions, the president formally created the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy and established the National Climate Task Force, composed of officials from 21 federal agencies and departments.
US President Joe Biden
Biden also signed a presidential memorandum protecting government scientists from political interference. "It's a whole-of-government approach to put climate change at the centre of our domestic, national security and foreign policy," he said. ✺
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