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International Environmental Update

International Environmental Update. Tom Cortina Halon Alternatives Research Corporation IASFPWG Meeting February 15, 2005 Ottawa, Canada. Kyoto Protocol - Background. Adopted in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan Worldwide differentiated target of 5.2% reduction from 1990 levels between 2008-2012

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International Environmental Update

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  1. International Environmental Update Tom Cortina Halon Alternatives Research Corporation IASFPWG Meeting February 15, 2005 Ottawa, Canada

  2. Kyoto Protocol - Background • Adopted in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan • Worldwide differentiated target of 5.2% reduction from 1990 levels between 2008-2012 • CO2, CH4, N20, HFCs, PFCs, SF6 • EU (-8%), Japan (-6%), U.S. (-7%) • No international policies and measures • maintenance of national flexibility

  3. Kyoto Protocol Status • Russia officially ratified the Kyoto Protocol on November 18, 2004 • 129 countries have ratified representing 61.6% of global GHG emissions • 55 countries representing 55% of global GHG emissions needed for entry into force • Kyoto Protocol officially enters into force on February 16, 2005

  4. United States • U.S. will not become a party to Kyoto Protocol • Focused on voluntary programs to address GHGs • U.S. position unlikely to change in the next four years - although growing interest in Congress • No indication that U.S. plans to engage in post-Kyoto discussions

  5. Europe • EU emissions trading scheme • Major industries such as oil, steel, cement, glass, and paper have a CO2 cap starting in 2005 • Companies that cannot meet their cap can purchase emission credits from companies whose emissions are below their cap • Recent calls for transportation emissions (air travel) to be included

  6. Impact on HFCs • U.S. unlikely to regulate HFCs beyond SNAP - voluntary programs • EU regulation on fluorinated gases focuses on containment, recycling, training, and reporting - does not restrict use of HFCs for fire protection • Prohibits use of PFCs for fire protection • Second reading before EU Parliament expected in April - final in 2005

  7. IPCC Special Report • IPCC, with cooperation from TEAP, is producing a special report on HFCs and PFCs • Intended to assist countries in making informed decisions when evaluating ODS alternatives • Fire protection chapter will be about 15 pages of a 400-page report • Final draft released for review last week - approval at IPCC meeting in April

  8. Montreal Protocol • Decision XV/11 calls for the TEAP to engage in discussions with ICAO to develop a “timely plan of action” to consider “modifying the regulatory requirements that mandate the use of halons on new airframes” • HTOC co-chair and members met with ICAO in November and developed an action plan

  9. Montreal Protocol • Decision XV/11 action plan: • HTOC will submit an article for the ICAO Journal • HTOC will project halon supply, cost and emissions • ICAO will issue a State Letter in 2006, inviting States to require the use of proven alternatives in newly designed aircraft

  10. Montreal Protocol • Decision XV/11 action plan: • ICAO Secretariat will introduce an ICAO/HTOC working paper at the 2007 ICAO assembly • Requirement for States to use proven alternatives in new airframe designs beginning 2009 • HTOC will meet in March in Germany to begin work on halon supply and emission estimates

  11. EPA Report on Aviation • In September 2004 U.S. EPA released a report by ICF/Hughes entitled “Review of the Transition Away From Halons in U.S. Civil Aviation Applications” • Report was intended to evaluate the barriers to the implementation of halon alternatives in commercial aircraft

  12. EPA Report on Aviation • Major findings: • Fire scenarios in FAA MPSs are realistic • MPSs for lavatory, hand-held, and engine/APU provide equivalent level of safety to halons • Questions about cargo MPS due to alternative aerosol can test • Alternatives to halons are available that meet MPS requirements for all applications except engine/APU

  13. EPA Report on Aviation • Barriers identified: • Lack of regulatory mandate to replace halons • Regulatory concerns associated with some alternatives • Space, weight, and cost penalties • Lack of effective leadership within aviation community in setting non-regulatory halon phaseout targets or goals

  14. EPA Report on Aviation • Conclusons: • Commercial aircraft is only sector where there has been no implementation of halon alternatives in new or existing equipment • Process to design, conform, qualify, and certify new extinguishing systems on commercial aircraft must be made a priority by industry and approval authorities or it will continue to present major barrier to halon transition - example is lavatory systems

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