UNEP to meet city industry heads next year

In a bid to bring down the emission levels of Hydrochloroflurocatrbons in the city...

In a bid to bring down the emission levels of Hydrochloroflurocatrbons (HCFC) in the city,the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has shown its intent to initiate a meeting with the CEOs of the industries in Pune in March 2010. It will probably be the first time that an international agency like UNEP will be consulting the industry in the city on protection of environment.

The intent was shown in a conference arranged in the city by UNEPs Ozone Action Group as a precursor to the Ozone Day Celebrations to be arranged on September 16,in cooperation with Maratha Chamber of Commerce,Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) and Centre for Environment Education (CEE) on International Cooperation in Ozone Layer Protection and Achieving Ozone Layer Protection with minimum Green House Gas Emission Impact.

MCCIA has assured to coordinate with the industries to have a roundtable conference regarding the issue. As a progressive city,Pune can help immensely in protecting Ozone layer depletion as recommended by Montreal Protocol coming up with alternative technologies that can help reduce HCFC, said Atul Bagai,coordinator of Asia Pacific region of the UNEP.

Bagai said if the industries in the city back the ideas of UNEP it could be taken up on the larger scale. Public-private partnership can help solve the issues related to reduction of HCFC emission easily, he said.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer has now been ratified by all countries in the world. It is a sign that the world is really concerned about the environment. Now,it is time to act and that too in right direction, said Stephen Andersen,co-chair of Montreal Protocol,Technology and Economy Assessment Panel. He added that India could play an important role in protecting the Ozone layer depletion by acting on the action plan.

Dutch environmentalist Guss Velders and director general of MCCIA Anant Sardeshmukh were also present on the occasion. Representative of UNEP Vineeta Apte welcomed the guests.

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories