摘要
Climate change and ozone depletion are topics challenging the world over and are both attributed mainly to human activities,particularly emissions of ozone depleting substances.One such substance is chlorodifluoromethane(HCFC-22),a cheap,widely used refrigerant with a high global warming potential and a chemical target for phase-out under the Montreal protocol.Botswana like all signatory countries to the Montreal Protocol is required to develop and implement a country-level Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase-out Management Plan(HPMP).This study focused on evaluating the environmental and socioeconomic implications of phasing out HCFC-22 in Botswana.A census of nine HCFC-22-importing companies was conducted and probability sampling proportional to company size was used to select a sample of 159 respondents from the Department of Meteorological Services,Customs officers and HCFC-22 Industrial consumers.Annual HCFC-22 importation figures for Botswana in 2009-2017 from the National Ozone Unit were analysed.It emerged that HCFC-22 phase-out had reduced HCFC-22 consumption by approximately 510,400 kg in 2011-2017,translating to 28,072 ozone depleting potential(ODP)saved.Also,the HCFC-22 phase-out plan saved the country 128 kW h of electricity for 2009-2017.While decreasing demand for HCFC-22,the HPMP had correspondingly occasioned the higher replacement and servicing costs of HCFC-22-compliant equipment,as HCFC-22 substitutes cost more.To deter use of HCFC-22 and promote phase-out,the price of substitute refrigerants can be made less expensive than HCFC-22.Participating stakeholders attest that HCFC-22 phase-out has positive social benefits such as raising community awareness of the ozone depleting phase-out.As a recommendation,the government of Botswana could offer a number of incentives towards HCFC-22 substitutes uptake in order to give impetus to technology transfer.
