UN Division for Sustainable Development

Case Study Detail Record

Organization type:	Government

Name of Ministry/Agency:

Country:	Mexico

Initiative Title:	CFC Production Clossure in Mexico

Internet links:	http://www.semarnat.gob.mx

Scope:

Status:	Ongoing

Timeframe:	Start: End:

Stakeholders/Partners:	ONUDI QUIMOBASICOS

Relevent issues:	- Control measures derived from the Montreal Protocol

Objectives/Challenges:

To phase out the consumption of CFC

Lessons Learned:

When the Program of the United Nations (UNEP) proposed the control of the chemical substances based on scientific research, there was a high international and country resistance.
Mexico recognizes the importance of the international cooperation in the attention of other global environmental problems that we are facing currently, like the Global Earth Warming

Policy Options:

Mexico as an active supporter of the Montreal Protocol has the commitment of CFC production closure. Particularly, the Protocol of Montreal has granted supports to Mexico by 76.8 million dollars, in order to support the country in the project execution to eliminate substances that deplete ozone layer.

Summary:

Mexico closes its production of Clorofluorocarbons (CFCs). With this action, Mexico goes ahead in its commitments, and hitting a reduction of a 12% in world production of CFC, and in a 60% in the production at continental level. The country goes ahead four years to the established date by the Montreal Protocol. In the last 3 years its production of CFC was around 22,000 tons and after the production was closed in September 9, 2006.
The Government of Mexico take actions on the closure of the CFC production plant of Quimobásicos, located in Monterrrey, Nuevo Leon, on September of the 2005. This action helps on the elimination of the use of these substances not only in Mexico but in all Latin America and other regions of the world.
México has phase out around 90% the consumption of CFC in domestic and commercial refrigerators, air conditioning, aerosols, solvents and polyurethane foams.

Since 1990, the aerosols distributed in Mexico use alternative propellants. The use of CFC in the Foam Production Sector has been eliminated. Implementation of a system for recovery and recycling and final treatment of CF.

México is implementing a monitoring system for the import and export of ozone Depleting Substances in coordination with the Custom Office.

Currently the Environment and Natural Resources Secretariat in México (SEMARNAT) carries out a plan to phase out the consumption of CFCs in the refrigeration service sector, through a technician training programme, the establishment of recovery and recycling and final treatment centers and conversion programme for refrigeration equipments. Likewise, México is implementing a monitoring system for the import and export of ozone Depleting Substances in coordination with the Custom Office.