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{
    "id": 1263887,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1263887/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 648,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Having gone through the history that he has brought to my mind, I want to support this because the Montreal Protocol is dealing with hydrofluorocarbons. When we talk of climate change, many people think of carbon, carbon dioxide and other carbon derivatives that raise temperature. Another important component of climate change that is coming from our activities is that of hydrofluorocarbons. Those are carbon compounds with fluorine attached to them. Fluorine is a very active chemical. So, what do they do? Why are we concerned about them? They deplete the ozone layer. Above the stratospheres, there is a sheet of ozone. What is ozone? It is oxygen in a different formulation. Oxygen exists as two atoms in one molecule while ozone exists in three atoms of oxygen in one molecule. That makes it very active. Due to that, it protects the earth from the sun’s radiation. It absorbs some radiation like the ultra-violet rays. Depleting that ozone is like taking that sheet out and that means that all the radiation from the sun will come to us. They are very dangerous. Apart from the temperatures, the radiation is very dangerous to the skin. We will have higher cases of skin cancer in particular. Plants and animals will be affected. Lack of protection of the ozone layer is extremely dangerous. That is why we have to protect ourselves. Where do we use hydrofluorocarbons? It is important to know that they have a lot of uses. As Hon. Shakeel has said, they are used in refrigeration. Refrigeration liquids contain hydrofluorocarbons. They are also in resins or plastics, which are then released into the atmosphere. Another common use is as a propellant in aerosols. Anything that you spray, be it a deodorant, insecticide or agricultural chemicals, uses hydrofluorocarbons as a propellant. When you press the liquid, the hydrofluorocarbons under pressure, containing the chemicals, are expelled. If you think of all sprays, refrigeration in hotels, plastics or resins, then you will appreciate that a lot of hydrofluorocarbons are in the atmosphere. Without going into detail, the Montreal Protocol seeks to curb the use of hydrofluorocarbons. I have been to many negotiations where developed countries make protocols that favour them. I like this Kigali Amendments on the Montreal Protocol because it phases out the use of hydrofluorocarbons. The Amendments provide a period by which we must stop the use. Developed countries may be ready to stop, but we are not. Therefore, it is better to phase it out. We will need funding to phase it out. What do we replace it with? The Kigali Amendments say that if we are going to make a contribution to the whole world by phasing out our consumption of hydrofluorocarbons, then we will get financial support. I also support the amendments because they are in line with the Constitution. Article 2 of the Constitution says any treaty that we ratify becomes part of our laws. Article 69 of the Constitution provides that we must make efforts as a country to do away with things that are dangerous to the environment. The amendments are also in line with the Climate Change Act and the Treaty Making and Ratification Act. But as some of my colleagues have said, we need to set up a system or a department with trained individuals who can document the sources and uses of hydrofluorocarbons and how we can change that. We must then work out our annual The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}