N.Z. signs pact to protect ozone layer

Press, 22 September 1987, Page 32

N.Z. signs pact to protect ozone layer

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

New Zealand has signed a United Nations-spon-sored convention to reduce substantially the release of chemicals into the atmosphere that destroy the ozone layer. The protocol was signed by the Associate Minister for the Environment, Mr Woollaston, in Canada while attending a threeday conference In Montreal.

He said New Zealand had played a significant role in reaching a compromise between the conflicting positions of the United States and the European Community, as well as ensuring the views of small nations were considered.

New Zealand’s intervention had been to provide for the European Community to be treated as a single bloc for the purposes of the protocol, with

each European Community member having to ratify the protocol before it became effective. Mr Woollaston said the negotiations at the conference had been the culmination of five years of talks.

New Zealand had a vital interest in the implementation of this protocol because it was likely to be the first country affected by any further expansion of the hole in the ozone layer which appeared over Antarctica every southern spring.

There was now a consensus that the ozone layer was being damaged severely by the emission of chlorofluorocarbons used extensively in aerosol cans, refrigerants, synthetic foams and for other industrial uses, he said.

The protocol called for an immediate freeze on the use of chlorofluorocarbons and other ozonedepleting chemicals in

New Zealand at present levels. Use would be reduced 20 per cent from July 1, 1993, and a further 30 per cent from July 1, 1998.

“Without this protocol there is a serious danger that the damage to the ozone layer could result in a higher incidence of skin cancer, and dramatic changes in the climate that could affect fisheries ..and damage the marine food chain,” Mr Woollaston said. i

“For every 1 per cent depletion in the ability of the ozone layer to block ultra-violet, it is estimated that the incidence of skin cancer from suntanning will increase 4 per cent,” he said. The United Nations considered that production of gases destroying ozone had begun to rise sharply — 5 to 7 per cent — after dropping markedly during the mid--19705.