STATEMENT BY DR. RICHARD L. LESIYAMPE, PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES AT THE JOINT TENTH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE VIENNA CONVENTION AND THE TWENTY – SIXTH MEETING OF THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER, PARIS, FRANCE

HIGH – LEVEL SEGMENT

20TH – 21ST NOVEMBER, 2014

Mr. President, first and foremost, I would like to congratulate you on your election as the President of the 26th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and wish to express on behalf of the Government of Kenya and my delegation appreciation to the Government of France for hosting the Joint Tenth Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Vienna Convention and the Twenty- Sixth Meeting of the Parties in Paris, for its warm welcome and pleasant hospitality to my delegation.

I would also like to thank the Ozone Secretariat for its excellent work in organizing and making sure that this meeting gets on smoothly under the leadership of Ms. Tina Birmpili. In this regard, Kenya would wish to take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Tina Birmpili for her appointment as the Executive Secretary and wish her success in her endeavours.

Mr. President

The protection of the Ozone Layer is more important for the well being of future generations and for sure we are protecting the Ozone Layer so that future generations will lead a healthy life free from harmful sun’s ultra-violet (UV-B) radiation. Under true cooperation among Parties to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer, the protection of the Ozone Layer can be achieved.

Distinguished Delegates

Ladies and Gentlemen

Kenya has made considerable progress in phasing out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) in most applications. However, some alternatives such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have high global warming potential (GWP) that have detrimental effects on the climate system. Towards this, it should be appreciatedthat the suitability of alternatives are evaluated holistically to avoid creatingother environmental problems.

Kenya is aware that a workshop on HFC management was held just prior to the 34thMeeting of the Open-ended Working Grouphere in Paris and that; outcomes were prepared and presented to the 34thOpen-ended Working Group meeting. Kenya is recognizantthat there was no consensus in some outcomes pertaining to the HFC management. Nonetheless, Kenya is pleased that parties participated in the discussion on issues related to the HFC management and would wish to thank the Ozone Secretariat for organizing the workshop. We hope during this Joint 10th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties and the 26th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, Parties can reach consensus on HFC management.

In Kenya, as part of strategies to phase out HFCs, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources in collaboration with GIZ Proklima of the German Government has trained about 300 refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians in good practices and also on safe use of hydrocarbons refrigerants as substitutes to HFCs.

Mr. President,

Kenya has phased out Methyl bromide use in soil fumigation and is in the process of phasing out in the post harvest sector. Currently, Kenya is at the verge of finalizing the implementation of methyl bromide phase out project in the grain silo storage facilities in post – harvest sector with technical support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as the implementing agency. The implementation of the project is of paramount importance to the food security situation in the country given that the staple food in Kenya is maize. Already, resistance development has been identified in three storage pests. In view of this, Kenya feels that there is need to request for transfer of knowledge in resistance management from countries that have had similar problems with such pest in their silo storage system. To achieve this, there is need to strengthen resistance monitoring laboratory in terms of equipment because this is a vital component in the implementation of the methyl bromide project.

Distinguished Delegates

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Kenya like other Parties is obligated in facilitating the achievement of Montreal Protocol through monitoring the concentration of ozone depleting substances and providing weather and climate information which are linked to influence the ozone gas concentration. The Kenya Government has put in place Meteorological services with a fully supported Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) stations at different localities in the country to generate scientific data for routine monitoring of the substances depleting ozone gas, and to monitor weather and climate performance.

Mr. President

Some of the most important aspects that are of concern to our Government include reliable, available, energy saving, and affordable ozone- friendly alternatives that are also friendly to the climate. Kenya, in the past has experienced natural disasters linked to climate change, and this has made our Government to seek indulgence with the global community to adopt ozone friendly technologies as well as climate friendly alternatives. Kenya believes that acknowledging synergies with other Multilateral Environmental Agreements that address challenges posed by alternatives to ozone depleting substances would strengthen the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer.

Mr. President

Kenya is aware that financial assistance to Article 5 Parties (Developing Countries) has contributed to the success of the Montreal Protocol in that, the use of the Multilateral Fund has assisted in the phase out of ozone depleting substances under Phase out projects approved by the Executive Committee, following the control measures under the Protocol schedules. In order therefore, to maintain the success of the Article 5 Parties in fulfilling their obligations under the Montreal Protocol, Kenya feels that it is important that the Multilateral Fund is availed and used efficiently to ensure compliance with the Protocol, and that capacity building in Article 5 Parties is sustained.

Mr. President

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As I conclude, I wish to express our strong commitment and support to the successful implementation of the Montreal Protocol requirements.

Once again, I thank the Government of France and the Ozone Secretariat for the well organizedJoint Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention and the Twenty – Sixth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol.

THANK YOU

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