PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has reduces the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) by a whopping 70% – surpassing the original target of 43% – through the implementation of the HCFC Elimination Management Plan (HPMP) Stage 1.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Kim Ching Thoo, who represented minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, highlighted this at a two-day combined thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention (COP) and the Thirty-Sixth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (MOP) held in Bangkok that started on Thursday (Oct 30).
In a statement issued on Friday (Nov 1), Kim said Malaysia aims to eliminate the use of HCFC by 2030.
At the meeting, Kim said he also highlighted the country's Kigali Implementation Plan (KIP), introduced in early 2024 to regulate the import and export of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC).
He said Malaysia calls on members of the meeting to provide technical, financial and capacity-building support to developing countries, including Malaysia, to ensure the continued implementation of obligations under the Montreal Protocol.
Kim also said he had held bilateral discussions with representatives of the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to discuss cooperation opportunities in support of the implementation of the Montreal Protocol.
The COP is held once every three years while the MOP is an annual meeting to finalise proposals related to the protection of the ozone layer and ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
It involves the participation of 198 countries that are parties and responsible for reducing or stopping the production and use of ODS. – Bernama
