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Asia-Pacifi c Broadcasters Brainstorm on
Linkages Between Ozone Depletion and
Climate Change
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Fourteen TV producers and directors from
across the Asia-Pacific region recently met
in Kuala Lumpur to explore media’s role
in spreading awareness about the links
between ozone depletion and climate
change.
From February 27-29, 2012, they took
part in a three-day Asia-Pacific Media
Workshop on the Linkages between Ozone
Depletion and Climate Change organized
by AIBD with support from the OzonAction
Programme of the United Nations
Environment Programme – Regional Office
for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP-ROAP).
AIBD and UNEP organized the workshop
to deepen the media’s understanding of
the urgency in reducing the production
and consumption of the chemicals used in
refrigeration and air-conditioning which are
potent greenhouse gases. Asian countries
are the main producers and consumers of
HCFCs, and governments have agreed to
phase them out by 2030.
“Our challenge is to mobilize the airwaves
to communicate these two important issues
on ozone depletion and climate change to
billions of viewers,” said Mr. Yang Binyuan,
AIBD director.
TV producers learnt about ozone science,
the Montreal Protocol, current HCFC
phase-out programs in air-conditioning,
refrigeration and other industries in Asia-
Pacific and climate and energy efficiency
benefits of HCFC phase-out.
The participants learnt about how ozonefriendly
chemicals are potent greenhouse
gases and the need to communicate this
to the mass audience and policy makers in
the Asia-Pacific region.
Fourteen TV producers and directors from
across the Asia-Pacific region recently
met to explore media’s role in spreading
awareness about the links between ozone
depletion and climate change.
Visit of the factory “CycleWorld”
As part of the learning process, they visited
CycleWorld, a Malaysian company that
uses HCFC-141b in the production of rigid
foam. With assistance from the Multilateral
Fund, CycleWorld is shifting to non-HCFC
alternatives in the near future.
Ms. Aminah Ali, assistant director of
the National Ozone Unit at the Ministry
of Environment in Malaysia, served as
a resource person and shared the host
country’s experience in phasing out ozonedepleting
substances (ODS).
This workshop was dedicated to Mr Robert
Lamb (1952-2012), founder director of
Television Trust for the Environment
(TVE), which UNEP set up in 1984. An
internationally renowned environmental
filmmaker, Mr. Lamb excelled in producing
science-based TV programs and other
media products on a wide range of
environment and development issues,
including ozone depletion and climate
change. In 2002, he co-authored a global
communication strategy for the Montreal
Protocol.
(Seated 3rd from right): AIBD director Yang Binyuan
graces closing ceremony
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