Minister of the Environment & Housing, the Hon. Romauld Ferreira addressed, on behalf of the Bahamian Government, the distinguished panel of global environmental experts at the Montreal Protocol Conference discussing earth’s Ozone Layer concerns, November 23, 2017.
Minister Ferreira first thanked the Ozone Secretariat, Multilateral Fund, environmental agencies, and all other organizers before delivering a Bahamian perspective of the importance of protecting the Ozone Layer.
“This is indeed a historic place, where our journey towards preserving the ozone layer began some 30 years ago. It has been over 24 years since The Bahamas became a signatory to the Montreal Protocol; and today as we face new challenges that threaten to disturb the delicate balance needed to sustain our way of life, we wish to affirm our commitment to this environmental treaty, and give the assurance in an official capacity to all our partners in the international community of our sincerity and unwavering support in the implementation of this agreement,” said Minister Ferreira.
“With the threat of Climate Change, (SIDS) or ‘Small Island Developing States’ like The Bahamas are particularly vulnerable. Over the past few years we have seen significant changes in our weather patterns, which have the capacity to dramatically alter life as we know it.”
Ferreira described the recent history of dangerous hurricanes that have passed through The Bahamas, sobering the tone of the Bahamian response for disaster management to the reality of climate change.
“In 2015, 2016, and just this year alone, The Bahamas and the Caribbean Region have suffered though the devastating effects of Hurricanes Joaquin, Matthew, Irma, and Maria. The impact, size, and strength of these hurricanes, in succession, was virtually non existent just a decade ago, which is indicative of climate changes that we are experiencing,” said Minister Ferreira.
“Mr. President, despite the successes of the Montreal Protocol, there is no doubt that we have arrived at yet another crossroads similar to the one we were facing in 1988 in this very city. With the realization that most ozone-depleting substances are also greenhouse gasses, it is the position of my government that the Montreal Protocol is the instrument best suited to tackle the challenges associated with Global Warming.”
Ferreira took the position that the Montreal Protocol was soundly designed, structurally, financially, and capacity-wise, to address the global challenges that climate change presents to SIDS.
“It should be noted that The Bahamas, like many other countries in our region, is a large consumer of HFC (hydroflourocarbon) gases and equipment. This increase in the use of gases, such as R-134a, and R-410A is due to the imposed quota system, which restricts the quantities of R-22 that can legally be imported into The Bahamas,” said Minister Ferreira.
“As a result of this steady increase in the consumption of HFCs, it is the intent of my Ministry and Government, having been newly elected just six months ago, to make the ratification of the Kigali Amendment, a top priority in 2018.”
Ferreira concluded his address by encouraging all member countries to continue to cooperate with each other in their deliberations because humanity has much more in common to celebrate than the little things we allow to divide us.
Minister of the Environment and Housing the Hon. Romauld Ferreira addressed the 2017 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, November 23, 2017 in Montreal, Canada. (BIS Photos/Gena Gibbs)
By Gena Gibbs
Bahamas Information Services
