Industry Roundtable on: Technological Options, Climate Benefits, Business Opportunities, and

Corporate Social Responsibilities under the Montreal Protocol 2.0

CONCEPT NOTE

Background:

2010 is a landmark year in the history of the Montreal Protocol under which 195 countries, in

collaboration with industry, have individually and collectively succeeded in eliminating the production

and consumption of the most severely damaging ozone depleting substances (ODSs) like CFCs, CTC and

halons. As many of these ODSs are powerful green house gases, this achievement has also had positive

effects on global efforts to mitigate climate change.

Further climate benefits can be expected from the phase out of remaining ODSs like HCFCs, as per the

decision taken in 2007 by all Parties to the Montreal Protocol. The aim now has to be to leap-frog to

energy efficient alternatives with low or zero global warming potential (GWP) and accelerate the

transition to alternative cooling technologies that meet the goal of phasing out HCFCs whilst maximizing

climate benefits.

In broader context, lessons from the Montreal Protocol till now provide the messages on multitude of

benefits from single focused MEA. For the rest of the job under the Montreal Protocol, there are

opportunities for the industries to get even more benefits, economic as well as environmental and

social. The work henceforth will herald practical approaches for demonstrating effective corporate social

responsibility.

Proposal:

An Industry Round Table is proposed to engage key decision makers from the chemicals and equipment

industry to discuss zero and low GWP technological options, opportunities to maximize energy

efficiency, and policy developments to accelerate the substitution of HCFCs with energy efficient and

low or zero GWP alternatives. The Round Table will be held on 9 November 2010 on the margins of the

Twenty-Second Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone

Layer to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, 8-12 November 2010. Deliberations in this roundtable will feed

into Davos 2011.

Objectives:

The aim of the proposed Industry Round Table will be to engage decision makers in a discussion on need

for low GWP energy efficient options for the remaining implementation of the Montreal Protocol . The

Round Table will therefore seek to:

Discuss the need for cutting edge technologies and opportunities for climate benefits from ozone

layer protection activities

Identify the present, near-term and long-term need of the developing countries for implementing

the Montreal Protocol

Identify and present emerging best practice case studies and make the green business case for

accelerated transitioning to environmentally sound alternatives that minimize costs from negative

climate impacts and unanticipated policy developments

Provide a dialogue platform between key industry decision makers and policy makers

Explore opportunities for Public Private Partnerships to facilitate collaboration on driving and

implementing strategies that meet agreed goals under the Montreal Protocol as well as climate

change mitigation targets

Discuss the role for CSR in mainstreaming proactive business engagement to meet global

environmental challenges

The Round Table will build on and affirm a collaborative approach to partnerships for development of

the Green Economy and enhance the role of the private sector in achieving the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs) in particular MDGs 7 and 8 on ensuring environmental sustainability and

developing global partnerships for sustainability.

It will take into account a broader perspective on the role for CSR and opportunities for business

solutions to global challenges. It seeks to discuss how the Montreal Protocol can serve as a leading

example for effective business responsibility and accountability, which, in a constructive partnership

with policy makers and in the context of an in many ways exemplary multilateral agreement, has been

key to successfully resolving a major environmental challenge and protecting the ozone layer.

CSR and mainstreaming responsible and sustainable business practices will be key to achieving

sustainable development goals and dealing with global challenges like climate change and other issues

of sustainable development. Almost 20 years after the most pressing global sustainability challenges

were identified in Agenda 21 at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, the

role of business has significantly shifted from being seen solely as a cause of the problem to being

increasingly recognized as a key part of the solution. 2012 will mark the 10 year anniversary of a key

milestone in bringing business around the table on global deliberations of sustai nable development

which was achieved in the Rio plus 10 Summit in Johannesburg in 2002. We have already passed the 10

year mark of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s initiative to engage business in a constructive dialogue

on sustainability challenges by inviting business leaders to join forces with the UN on 10 key

sustainability issues in the Global Compact.

Nevertheless the urgency of the sustainability challenges we face has arguably increased. The successful

protection of the Ozone Layer stands out as a beacon of hope and has been an exemplary case of

constructive multi-stakeholder engagement and responsible business action. Much can be learnt from

this success story and opportunities for mainstreaming CSR towards devising and implementing

solutions to some of the other most pressing sustainability challenges, and especially climate change.

Target Audience:

Technical and business managers from Chemicals and Equipment manufacturing industries

producing and consuming HCFCs and high, low and zero GWP energy efficient alternatives

Decision makers from companies from developing/developed countries

Technical experts engaged in technology assessment

Key policy makers from some of the key manufacturing and importing countries

Expected Outcomes:

Increased engagement in Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to facilitate technology transfer, reduce

energy intensity, drive the development of a Green Economy, and accelerate the phase out of HCFCs

to get climate and other environmental benefits

Enhanced awareness throughout the industry on needs of the developing countries

Mainstreaming CSR to implement business solutions to global environmental challenges