Addressing Urgent Action Against Air Pollution: Ghana’s Call to Combat Hydrofluorocarbon Dumping

Dubai, UAE – 8th December 2023

Dr. Patrick Nomo, Chief Director of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, representing Minister Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, delivered a crucial statement at COP28’s Climate and Clean Air Ministerial meeting, addressing the urgent need to combat air pollution.

Expressing gratitude to fellow Ministers for their participation, Dr. Nomo emphasized the global recognition of air pollution as a top planetary crisis. He highlighted short-lived climate pollutants like methane, black carbon, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons as major contributors to human-induced global warming.

Drawing attention to the concerning dumping of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in cooling appliances, particularly in Africa and other developing countries, Dr. Nomo underscored that approximately 650,000 refrigeration and air-conditioning systems containing HFCs are discarded annually in African nations. Ghana welcomed the recent decision at the 35th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on the environmental dumping of cooling appliances.

Ghana urges the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to support committed developing countries by aiding in the development and enforcement of policies to prevent dumping. This includes backing the establishment of minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and providing capacity-building for governments to implement standards and border controls.

The statement called on exporting countries within the Coalition to promptly cease the export of cooling equipment that does not comply with domestic regulations and standards. Dr. Nomo emphasized the critical need for swift action to avoid reaching a tipping point, urging the CCAC to lead in demonstrating unwavering commitment to combating air pollution.

In conclusion, Dr. Nomo thanked all participants, reinforcing the collective responsibility to fight for the planet’s survival.