Philippines enters final push to eliminate ozone-harming cooling chemicals by 2030
Photo: (left) DENR-EMB Director Atty. Michael Drake P. Matias, (right) DENR Usec. Jonas R. Leones
PHILIPPINES: The Philippines has launched the third and final stage of its Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP), setting the country on course to completely eliminate HCFCs, which are chemicals commonly found in air conditioners, refrigerators, and fire suppression systems, by 2030.
According to the Philippine News Agency (PNA), the HPMP Stage 3 was launched in Quezon City on Tuesday by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), marking what officials described as the last major step in fulfilling the country’s obligations under the 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
A commitment nearly 40 years in the making
The Montreal Protocol, widely regarded as the most successful international environmental agreement in history, has been ratified by all 197 countries in the world. Under the agreement, member states committed to gradually eliminating ozone-depleting substances on a defined phase-out schedule.
HCFCs were themselves introduced as a transitional replacement for older, more damaging chemicals, but while less harmful than their predecessors, HCFCs still damage the ozone layer and contribute to climate change, making their eventual elimination the next necessary step.
DENR-EMB Director Michael Drake Matias said the transition is designed to protect both the environment and the economy simultaneously. “We are here to ensure an environmental transition that does not compromise economic viability or vitality, but instead supports and strengthens the very industries that are critical to the country’s development while promoting environmentally sustainable technologies,” he was quoted as saying by PNA.
The Philippines has made significant progress on this endeavour. UNIDO Project Manager Yonrui Zhu said the country had already surpassed one of its key Montreal Protocol milestones, achieving nearly 70% HCFC reduction, against a 67.5% target set for 2025, and coming in below the control limit ahead of schedule.
The next milestone is the total elimination of all remaining HCFC consumption by 2030, through the full implementation of the HPMP project.
What the final phase focuses on
The third stage will concentrate on helping industries transition to cleaner, more energy-efficient alternatives. This involves the use of hydrocarbons, ammonia, and carbon dioxide, which were identified as lower-impact replacements for HCFCs in refrigeration and cooling applications.
A significant portion of the work will involve upskilling refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians, who play a critical role in preventing harmful refrigerants from being released into the atmosphere during servicing and maintenance.
“Part of the project would be providing assistance to them, technical capabilities, and informing them of the effects of these substances to the ozone layer,” Matias said. He added that policy reviews would also be conducted to make it easier for the industry to capture and safely dispose of these substances rather than releasing them into the environment.
Placing importance on equipping these technicians would not only help the Philippines completely eliminate the use of HCFC, but it would also ensure that they wouldn’t lose their livelihoods.
The science is encouraging
The broader picture on ozone recovery is positive. Matias noted that the ozone layer is already showing signs of healing based on current scientific observations. This was a direct result of decades of global commitment to the Montreal Protocol.
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“The ozone layer basically is healing right now. Based on science and based on studies and observations, the ozone layer is healing. And we need to continue doing this for future generations,” he said, as quoted by PNA.
More than an environmental goal
DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones framed the phase-out in terms that went beyond environmental compliance, describing the shift to sustainable cooling as a matter of urgency in a warming world with rapidly growing demand for refrigeration and air conditioning.
“Transitioning away from ozone-depleting substances and high-global-warming-potential gases is no longer just an environmental goal. It is now a matter of national survival and global climate justice,” Leones said.
With the ozone layer on the mend and the Philippines tracking ahead of its own reduction targets, the 2030 finish line is within reach. However, the final stretch, which requires reaching every technician, every workshop, and every industry player still using HCFCs, will be the hardest part of the journey.
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