Bangladesh is providing adequate assistance for the export of climate-friendly Air conditioner
Md. Shahab Uddin, the minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), (Bangladesh) informed that Bangladesh is encouraging climate-friendly alternative technologies to implement the Hydro-chloro-fluoro-carbons (HCFCs) Phase-out Management Plan (Stage-2) a part of protecting the ozone layer.
He is also expecting that the implementation of the Stage-2 project will open the door for the export of air conditioners and Fridges produced in Bangladesh.
He shared this information while addressing a discussion organized at the Department of Environment (Bangladesh) on World Ozone Day 2021 under the theme “Protect the Ozone Layer in Compliance with the Montreal Protocol, Build a Cool World of Safe Food and Antidote ‘.
“Our government providing a special opportunity to the manufacturers of refrigeration and air-conditioning products to pay taxes and VAT. The government is promoting refrigeration as one of the sectors after the ready-made garment industry for export development. If the converted ACs are energy efficient, they will meet the domestic demand as well as increase export opportunities,” he continued.
“Bangladesh is a proud partner in the success of the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol adopted to protect the ozone layer. The role of the Montreal Protocol in making the refrigeration system up-to-date and environmentally friendly in preserving food and vaccines against current corona is commendable.”
“Bangladesh has passed all the stages of implementation of the Montreal Protocol in a timely manner and is complying with the obligations of the Protocol.
Although (HCFCs) have extremely low Ozone depletion capacity, they have a high potential for global warming. So at present work is underway to phase out HCFCs used in air conditioning, firefighting and foam sectors.”
The Environment Minister hopes that the Montreal Protocol will successfully protect the Ozone layer by Kigali Amendment in 2016 and tackle climate change. Bangladesh has been praised and awarded by the United Nations Environment Program in 2012 and 2017 to recognize the very successful implementation of the Montreal Protocol.
In addition, the World Customs Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Ozone Secretariat awarded the Department of the Environment (Bangladesh) in 2019 in recognition of their significant contributions to controlling the illegal entry and import of ozone-depleting substances.
Implementing the remaining programs for protecting the ozone layer under the Montreal protocol will require the cooperation of all concerned, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Under the chair of Mostafa Kamal, Secretary of the MoEFCC, Habibun Nahar, Deputy Minister of MoEFCC, and other higher officials/directors of the same ministry spoke at the meeting.
Sudipta Mukherjee, UNDP Resident Representative, was also addressed at the discussion meeting as special guests. Ziaul Haque, Director of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) directorate, Bangladesh, presented the keynote address at the meeting.
