IPCC Special Report: “Safeguarding the ozone layer and the global climate system”

The WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 6 - 8 April 2005 to finalize a Special Report on "Safeguarding the ozone layer and the global climate system: issues related to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs)"

This Special Report describes both scientific and technical information regarding alternatives to ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) that may affect the global climate system. It addresses scientific linkages between stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change, and how the phase-out of ODSs is affecting climate change.

HFCs have no ozone-depleting potential but are greenhouse gases, and are used as replacements for ODSs in applications such as refrigeration and air-conditioning, foams, aerosol and solvents, fire protection. The report assesses options to reduce emissions of these greenhouse gases, explores their technical feasibility and cost, and addresses environmental, safety and health considerations.

The report was prepared by Working Group I and Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in collaboration with the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) of the Montreal Protocol.

The full report runs to around 350 pages, has been in preparation for over 2 years, and is the work of 145 experts from 35 countries from around the world. The report went through extensive review by hundreds of experts and governments in line with the IPCC Principles and Procedures. After line-by-line consideration, the governments unanimously approved the Summary for Policymakers of the report and accepted the full report. You can download the Summary for Policymakers of the report on the IPCC press release page.