BARBADOS IS ON track to reduce its Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) usage by 35 per cent, in accordance with international guidelines.
Project manager in the Ministry of Environment and Drainage Rickardo Ward told the Press dialogue had been established with importers of the gas and they had been complying.
“Right now we are dealing with the global phase out of HCFC. The developed world has already phased them out, but for us developing countries, we have until 2020 to reduce our consumption by 35 per cent and by 2030 completely abandon using HCFC.
“We are on track for that so far. It works out to about a five per cent reduction every year. We know who the major importers of refrigerant gas for services are and we tell them annually the total volume they can import and so far they have been importing less than the average [required to stay on track],” he said.
Ward was speaking after the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Ozone Network meeting on ozone depleting substances alternative surveys held in the Radisson Aquatica, Aquatic Gap, St Michael.
He said Barbados was using more hydrofluorocarbons, which were less ozone harming, but as this was a greenhouse gas, Barbados would have to eventually phase that out as well. He said further alternatives were available, but the market still had to mature more before their use could be made widespread. (CA)