The central government cannot carry out the supervision alone.
Balikpapan, East Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - The Office of the Indonesian Minister for Environment held an ozone layer protection technical meeting here on Tuesday to discuss efforts to control circulation of ozone depleting substances (BPO) on islands and in state borders.

"This meeting is aimed at increasing the capability of regional government officials to control the circulation and use of ozone depleting substances," Arief Yuwono, the deputy minister for environment control and climate change, said here on Tuesday.

He said that the release of these substances to the atmosphere had the potentials to deplete the ozone layer. As a result ultraviolet-B radiation reaching the earth surface became intense and could harm human health, the life of sea organism and plant growth.

"Without the ozone layer, cases of skin cancer, cataract, declining of human immunity and other negative impact will increase," Arief said.

He said that the use of ozone depleting substances, which could easily be found in daily life should be controlled so that further depletion of the ozone layer could be prevented.

BPO is a chemical substance used in the production of/use in various goods such as mattress, shoe repair, refrigerators, air conditioner, fire extinguisher and room refresher.

Therefore, according to Arief, Indonesia as a state partner of the Montreal Protocol had the obligation to phase out gradually ozone depleting substances, report data on its consumption and control the use of the substances.

"But the central government cannot carry out the supervision alone. It needs the active participation of regional governments which have the roles in developing businesses in the region," he said.

He said that his office had set a target to reduce BPO substances up to 75 percent in 2030 and hope it would have found a substitute substance to the HFC.

The technical meeting which will last until May 2, 2013 is being attended by representatives of 33 provincial governments, city governments, directorate general of customs and excise and high learning institutions.(Uu.A014/F001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013