Australia’s Strategy for Managing Ozone Depleting

Substances and Synthetic Greenhouse Gases

Damage to the Earth’s protective ozone layer 2003 and 2007 ozone holes were much smaller,
has sparked unprecedented world-wide concern due in large part to the disruption of the hole by
and action. Over 194 countries have signed the other weather conditions in the troposphere and
Montreal Protocol, an international agreement to stratosphere.
phase out ozone depleting substances since it
Prospects for the long-term recovery of
came into effect in 1989.
the ozone layer are good. Non-essential
As one of these countries, Australia continues consumption of major ozone depleting
© Greg Stone to be a world leader in the phase out of ozone substances in the developed world slowed during
depleting substances, in many cases well the early 1990s and ceased in 1996. Scientists
ahead of the Protocol requirements. Australia’s predict that if the international community
approach has been based on a highly co- continues to comply with the Montreal Protocol
operative partnership between industry, the the ozone layer should fully recover between
community, and all levels of government. 2050 and 2065.

The ozone layer Australia’s implementation of the

Montreal Protocol
The stratospheric ozone layer protects life on
Earth by absorbing ultra-violet (UV) radiation Australia acceded to the Vienna Convention for
from the sun. UV radiation is linked to skin the Protection of the Ozone Layer in 1987 and
cancer, genetic damage and immune system ratified the Montreal Protocol on Substances
suppression in living organisms, and reduced that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1989. The
productivity in agricultural crops and the food Protocol sets mandatory targets for phasing
chain. out the production and consumption of ozone
depleting substances. Since its inception in
Scientific evidence has proven that the natural
1987, the phase-out dates for ozone depleting
balance of stratospheric ozone has been
substances have been accelerated on several
© Greg Stone upset by the production and release into the
occasions in accordance with improved scientific
atmosphere of ozone depleting substances
understanding about ozone depletion and
including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons,
advances in ozone benign technology.
methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride,
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and methyl Australia continues to take a leadership role in
bromide. These substances have applications in ongoing Montreal Protocol negotiations to ensure
refrigerators, air conditioners, fire extinguishers, that further actions to protect the ozone layer are
as solvents for cleaning electronic equipment, scientifically based and technically feasible and
aerosols and as agricultural fumigants. that developing countries are supported in their
efforts to phase out ozone depleting substances.
Data collected in the upper atmosphere have
© Peter Tsimnadis
shown that there has been a general thinning The enhanced greenhouse effect
of the ozone layer over most of the globe. This
includes a five to nine percent depletion over Greenhouse gases are a natural part of the
Australia since the 1960s which has increased atmosphere. They absorb and re-radiate the
the risk that Australians already face from over- sun’s warmth and maintain the Earth’s surface
exposure to UV radiation resulting from our temperature at a level necessary to support life.
outdoor lifestyle. The problem we now face is that human actions
- particularly burning fossil fuels, agriculture and
In addition, more dramatic damage occurs over land clearing - are increasing the concentrations
Antarctica each spring when the ozone ‘hole’ of the gases that trap heat. This is the enhanced
forms. The Antarctic ozone holes in 2000 and greenhouse effect, which is contributing to a
2006 were the largest on record, measuring warming of the Earth’s surface.
© Peter Tsimnadis
around 32.9 million square kilometres (more than
three times the size of Australia) and, for the Research by the world’s leading scientists
Images © DEWHA and associated first time, extending over populated areas. The suggests that without actions to reduce
photographers unless otherwise noted.
greenhouse gas emissions, the Earth’s surface
 Australia’s Strategy for Managing Ozone Depleting
Substances and Synthetic Greenhouse Gases

temperature is likely to rise by 1.0ºC-6.4Cº by The Australian Government also owns Australia’s
the end of this century. Likely outcomes are National Halon Bank which reclaims halon,
reduced water availability, more heat waves, maintains a stock for essential uses and
fewer frosts, less snowfall, more storms, stronger disposes of excess halon and other ozone
tropical cyclones and rises of 18-59 cm in sea depleting substances.
levels.
Industry has also been strongly engaged in
Many ozone depleting substances and their Australia’s efforts to phase out ozone depleting
replacements are also powerful greenhouse substances and minimise the emissions of
© Greg Stone
gases. The Kyoto Protocol, to which Australia ozone depleting substances and SGGs. The
is a signatory, lists three synthetic greenhouse department and industry have worked closely
gases - hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), together to:
perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride
• establish standards and competencies to
(SF6). The most common synthetic greenhouse
ensure that businesses and technicians
gas used in Australia is HFC-134a, which has
handling ozone depleting substances and
a global warming potential (GWP) of 1300,
SGGs do so in a way that minimises their
meaning that it is 1300 times as potent as
emission to the atmosphere
carbon dioxide. Other synthetic greenhouse
gases are even more powerful global warmers, • establish a world class product stewardship
with PFCs having GWPs between 6500-9200 scheme for refrigerants. Refrigeration
and SF6 having a GWP of 23 900. Australia’s Reclaim Australia takes back and destroys
policies on these gases are aimed at minimising used fluorocarbon refrigerants
avoidable emissions. • prepare codes of practice which establish
best practice for businesses that use
Domestic policies for managing Ozone
ozone depleting substances and SGGs
Depleting Substances and Synthetic
(these codes have been incorporated into
© Greg Stone Greenhouse Gases
regulation and made mandatory across
The Department of the Environment, Water, Australia)
Heritage and the Arts is the Australian
• provide ongoing support for the licensing
Government agency responsible for
and permit schemes established under
co-ordinating national ozone protection
the regulations designed to ensure that
measures and administering the Ozone
only permit holders can obtain or handle
Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas
restricted substances, and
Management Act 1989.
• accelerate the phase-out of HCFCs, ahead
To meet obligations under the Montreal and
of our Montreal Protocol obligations.
© Peter Tsimnadis Kyoto Protocols, the department controls:

• the import, export and manufacture of

bulk ozone depleting substances and
their synthetic greenhouse gas (SGG)
replacements

• the import and domestic manufacture of

many products containing ozone depleting For further information, go to
substances and their SGG replacements, the department’s website,
and
www.environment.gov.au
• end uses of these substances, including
or email the Ozone and
acquisition, possession, handling and
© Peter Tsimnadis Synthetic Gas Team on:
disposal. Currently specific regulations
are in place covering refrigeration and air ozone@environment.gov.au
Images © DEWHA and associated
photographers unless otherwise noted. conditioning, fire protection and methyl
bromide.