FIA

Projected emissions of ozone depleting substances (ODS) contained in products and equipment represent one of the main remaining challenges for the protection of the ozone layer.  Although the Montreal Protocol is successfully phasing out ODS production and consumption, it does not control emissions of ODS. It is estimated that large quantities of ODS are still banked in products and equipments in the EU and worldwide.  A similar situation exists with the fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-Gases), which have largely replaced ODS in several sectors.  Adequate management of these products and equipment at the end of their life (EOL) is important to avoid significant future emissions of ODS and greenhouse gases.  The European Commission has launched a study to assess the technical and economic feasibility of recovering and destroying ODS and F-Gases from different types of products and equipment.

This two-hour webinar, hosted by the European Commission Directorate-General Environment and ICF International will demonstrate the workings and functionality of an "ODS Inventory Tool" - a bottom-up model that estimates the quantities of CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs installed in refrigeration/air conditioning and foam-containing products and equipment across Member States, as well as the quantities reaching EOL from 2010 through 2050.  The tool also estimates the costs and emission reduction potentials associated with safely recovering ODS and F-Gases from these products/equipment at EOL.  The webinar will focus not only on how the tool works, but also on what key data inputs are used, and which data gaps require the greatest attention for future model improvement/validation.  The output of the webinar will be of particular interest for the follow-up study on this issue which is planned to be launched during 2010.

Member State representatives, industry stakeholders and technical staff knowledgeable about ODS/F-Gas markets, as well as experts on management of the waste streams concerned, in particular WEEE and demolition waste, are encouraged to participate and provide feedback.

For meeting details please contact Pamela Mathis at: pmathis@icfi.com