JAMAICA was yesterday listed among the countries in the region that have made significant efforts to phase out the use of ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol.

The Montreal Protocol, designed to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases that deplete the ozone layer, became the first treaty in history to achieve full ratification by all 196 Government parties, including Jamaica, in 2009.

“We would like to congratulate all parties in this region for continuously working very hard to comply with the Montreal Protocol,” said Gilbert Bankobeza, senior officer of the United Nation’s-based Ozone Secretariat.

Bankobeza made the comment as he addressed regional leaders yesterday at the opening of the four-day joint meeting of the Ozone Action Networks of Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

“Over three years ago we succeeded in phasing out a significant number of ozone-depleting substances — namely chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride and others,” he stated .

However, he noted that despite the strides, a number of challenges remain, chief among which is the lack of friendly technologies in commercial quantities while hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-related ones have very high global warming potential and not good for climate mitigation.

The Ozone Secretariat said the next task is to replace the HCFCs with other ozone-friendly alternatives.

Yesterday, Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Robert Pickersgill said Jamaica was committed to phasing out ozone-depleting substances to protect the environment.

“Jamaica became a party in 1993 and it is an honour to note that to date we have met all phase-out targets under the Montreal Protocol,” said Pickersgill.

The minister said that in January 2006, the country was able to phase out the use of CHFCs four years ahead of the 2010 target year.