NAIROBI, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) --Kenya will hasten the phasing out of chemicals used in cooling that are to blame for the depletion of the ozone layer, officials said on Monday at an event to mark International Day for Preservation of Ozone Layer.
Keriako Tobiko, cabinet secretary in the ministry of environment and forestry said that Kenya will honor its commitment to boost protection of the ozone layer through adoption of cleaner refrigeration technologies in households and industries.
"We are encouraging industries, companies and agricultural enterprises to sustain adoption of ozone and climate-friendly alternatives and technologies and ensure they shift from using ozone-depleting substances (ODS)," said Tobiko.
Kenya on Monday joined the rest of the world to mark the international day for the preservation of the ozone layer.
The east African nation is signatory to the Montreal Protocol that was adopted in 1987 but entered into force in 1989 that oblige countries to hasten phasing out of ozone depleting substances that include chemicals used in cooling, soil fumigation and firefighting.
Tobiko said that Kenya has domesticated the Montreal Protocol as part of its obligation to rally behind global efforts to halt depletion of ozone layer amid negative impacts on the environment and human health.
"The government will spare no efforts to ensure that requirements of the Montreal Protocol are fully implemented," said Tobiko.
"We have the obligation to continue to work hard to ensure that a complete phase-out and phase-down of ozone-depleting substances is achieved within the broad principles stipulated in the protocol," he added.
He said that Kenya is in the process of ratifying the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol as Nairobi ramps up partnership with key stakeholders to raise awareness on the need to protect the ozone layer.
Betty Maina, principal secretary in the ministry of environment and forestry, said that Kenya is implementing a project on phasing out hydro chloro flourocarbons that will pave way for adoption of ozone friendly alternatives.
She revealed that the government in partnership with bilateral partners has trained over 600 technicians on use of cooling technologies that are ozone and climate friendly.
