Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone

GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE

Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone

Office of the President

21 Old Railway Line, Brookfields

11th Conference of Parties to the Vienna Convention and 29th Meeting of Parties to the Montreal Protocol on substances that depletes the ozone layer in Montreal, Canada 20th-24th November, 2017 by Madam Jallow, Executive Chairperson, Environment Protection Agency-Sierra Leone

Mr. President,Your Excellences, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of His Excellency the President, the Government and people of Sierra Leone, let me take this opportunity to thank the Governmentand warm people of Canada for hosting these very important and historic meetings in the beautiful city of Montreal. I also wish to register our profound appreciation to the Ozone Secretariat for their immense contributionsto the success of the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol.

Mr. President, Your Excellencesdistinguish delegates, ladies and gentlemen let me also congratulate all national and international actors and the body of scientist whose tenacious commitment and passion over the past 30 years have made the Montreal Protocol an outstanding and exemplary international agreement, showcasing our monumental achievement of our collective international cooperation. Through the concerted efforts of all,science has shown that the ozone layer is healing itself and is expected to recover by the middle of this century.Furthermore, the Montreal Protocol has significantly contributed to the mitigation of climate change by averting the emission of more than 135 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere by simply phasing out ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs and HCFCs.

Mr. President, Your Excellencesdistinguished delegates ladies and gentlemen The Montreal Protocol exemplifies key guiding principles, which are now recognized to be the cornerstones of sustainable development, including: (i) the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities; (ii) precautionary principle; and (iii) the principle of basing policies and action on sound science. Due to these principles, the Montreal Protocol and the resulting institutional frameworks have ensured global participation, consensus and partnership among all key stakeholders and have made remarkable steps in protecting the planet from the impact of ozone depletion and climate change:

Mr. President, In Sierra Leone Environment issues receive high Government commitment.Under the leadership of H.E the President Ernest BaiKoroma,whohas retained the Ministry of Environment; Sierra Leonein line with the obligations under the protocol has implemented a number of activities:

1. Ratification of the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol and its Amendmentsand are now in the process of ratifying the Kigali Amendment.
2. Sierra Leone has developed legislations to control the production, distribution and consumption of Ozone depleting substances (ODS).
3. Established an import/export licensing system to control ODS and controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol
4. Sierra Leone has complied with the Protocol’s annual country programme data reporting requirement.
5. Established one hundred and forty (140) school nature clubs through out the country teaching children on the importance of the ozone layer.
6. Regulate the practices of refrigeration and air conditions technicians by establishing the national certification scheme in partnership with the Government Technical Institute Freetown.
7. Mr. President, Sierra Leone providesregular trainings and equipment to technician associations, customs, and other law enforcement officers across the country through the Sierra Leone’s Hydrochloroflorocarbon Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) with support from the Multilateral Fund for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol.
8. Maintained a high level of cooperation from stakeholders such as the National Ozone Unit, National Revenue Authority, Refrigeration Associations and the public on phase out process.
9. We have conducted ODS alternative survey.

Mr. President, Thirty years ago the community of nations came together with the vision, principles and determination to take action. I therefore thank the many dedicated compatriots, citizen of the world who worked consistently, passionately and selflessly to make it possible in solving ozone depletion and contributing to mitigate climate change. This anniversary of the Montreal Protocol avails us the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to continue to actualize the principles of the Protocol. For us to succeed we must continue to work in unity, keep the momentum and to apply the same spirit of the Montreal Protocol to other environmental challenges of our time. Together, we can make the planet healthier, safer and better; and create the future we want.

Thank you.