Khulna: Highlighting Bangladesh’s success in implementing the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol to protect the ozone layer, experts today emphasized the need for reducing the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and other ozone-depleting substances.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, HFCs are synthetic greenhouse gases introduced as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol. While HFCs help preserve the ozone layer, they have a high global warming potential (GWP), being thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide.
The experts noted that through the implementation of the HPMP Stage-2, it will be possible to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to approximately 1.7 million tons of carbon dioxide. These observations came during a “Regional Dissemination Workshop on the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol in Bangladesh,” held at the CSS Ava Centre in the city.
To mark ‘World Ozone Day’ today, the Department of Environment (DoE) under the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change organized the workshop under the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (Stage-2) Project. This year’s theme for the day is: “To Preserve Ozone Layer, Protect Climate Change.”
Speaking as the chief guest, Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Firoz Sarkar stated, “Bangladesh has successfully completed all stages of the Montreal Protocol’s implementation and is complying with its obligations. In recognition of this, Bangladesh has been praised and awarded by the United Nations Environment Programme.”
He added that the Department of Environment has also been recognized by the World Customs Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Ozone Secretariat for its significant contributions to controlling the illegal entry and import of ozone-depleting substances.
Md Ziaul Haque, Director (Air Quality Management) of the DoE in Dhaka, presented the keynote paper, while Sheikh Obidullah Al Mahmud, Project Officer of the ODS Project at the DoE, presented a progress report on the Montreal Protocol’s implementation. Other speakers included Imran Ahmed, Conservator of Forest (CF) in the Khulna Region; Dr. Md Monjur Morshed, Director of Health in the Khulna Division; and Sadikul Islam, Director of the DoE in Khulna Division.
The workshop was attended by government officials from various sectors, technicians, businessmen, teachers, NGO and media representatives, and other stakeholders.