Belize's Country Programme

Belize acceded to the Montreal Protocol, along with the London and Copenhagen Amendments, on September 9th 1998 and qualifies as an Article 5 country. As a first step to complying with the provisions of the Protocol, the Government of Belize carried out a national survey and formulated its Country Programme with technical assistance from UNEP and funding assistance from the Multilateral Fund.

The “Country Programme for the Phase Out of Ozone Depleting Substances” for Belize, together with the “Refrigerant Management Plan”, was approved by the Executive Committee at its 29th Meeting in November 1999.

The Country Programme provides data on consumption and use of ODS in Belize and expresses the commitment of the Government to phase-out its consumption of ODS. An Action Plan was developed with the purpose of ensuring a smooth phase-out without causing undue economic hardship to the industrial, commercial and, in particular, the domestic consumers.

Belize does not produce any ODS and all its requirements are met through imports. The total 1998 ODS consumption amounted to 37.574 tonnes (25.53 ODP tonnes, including R-22), resulting in a consumption of 0.111 kg/capita. The main consumption of ODS is in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning sector, comprising nearly 100% of total use.

The Government of Belize is committed to phasing out the consumption of ODS in a controlled and cost effective manner. It will take the steps outlined in the Action Plan to meet the freeze and phase-out schedule required by the Protocol. The Government is concerned about the availability of supply of CFCs to meet the service requirements of existing CFC based equipment to enable their operation to the end of their economic life. It is expected that by 2010, most equipment will have been retrofitted or replaced with ozone friendly technology, with some CFC-12 based domestic refrigeration equipment and HCFC-22 equipment remaining. Market forces, such as increasing prices and non-availability of CFCs and CFC using equipment, will play a vital role in the shift by consumers to ODS-free technology, particularly in the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors. The Government strongly encourages recovery and recycling to meet the service requirements of any ODS based equipment.

Up-to-date the country has achieved remarkable results under the Country Programme:

1. A National Ozone Unit has been established within the Department of the Environment in the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, which has succeeded in the timely delivery of the CP objectives, and in establishing the working links with other Government bodies, related industry, academia and NGOs in order to create a greater national ownership of the implementation of the Montreal Protocol.

2. A comprehensive legal framework was enacted in record time, thus allowing the local authorities to better control the import and use of ODSs and ODS-using equipment.

3. The national ODS consumption at the time of CP preparation, in year 1998, was 24.89 ODP tonnes of CFC, all concentrated in the refrigeration servicing sector. Up to date, Belize met its 50% reduction target in 2005 of CFCs and is currently meeting its 85% reduction in 2007.

4. Undertook public education and awareness activities, targeting various sectors of society with the view to raise awareness about ozone protection issues and win support for the country’s phase out initiatives.

5. Collected and reported on consumption of ozone depleting substances on an annual basis.

6. Executed the projects approved under the Refrigerant Management Plan (RMP) and the Refrigerant management Plan Update (RMPU).