Western governments, and Britain鈥檚 in particular, are neglecting technologies
that could hasten the phasing out of chemicals that deplete the ozone layer.
The criticism, issued by the environmental group Greenpeace, comes a week
before countries that have signed the Montreal Protocol to protect the ozone
layer meet again to decide new measures.
Debate next week in Geneva will centre on hydrochlorofluorocarbons,
substitutes for the CFCs banned by the protocol. These release much less
damaging chlorine than CFCs but still deplete the ozone layer.
Chemicals companies and users of CFCs, such as the refrigeration industry,
say they will need HCFCs once CFCs are banned. Greenpeace says HCFCs could
be banned as well if governments promote technologies that do not need CFCs
or their relatives.
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Greenpeace charges that the British government鈥檚 statements on ozone-depleting
chemicals are 鈥榓lmost identical to those of ICI鈥�, the chemicals company
that makes half of Europe鈥檚 CFCs. The government says CFCs and their relatives
are still needed for applications such as asthma drug inhalers and refrigeration.
Greenpeace points to alternative coolants such as hydrocarbons, ammonia
and water.
