Nobel Prize winning academic involved in historic climate change agreement

04 Aug 2016

An academic from the University joined representatives from across the globe to negotiate a phase down on the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) at a recent meeting of the United Nations Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) in Vienna

Professor Ashley Woodcock OBE, Clinical Director for Respiratory Medicine at the University Hospital of South Manchester, Co-Chairs the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) that is the main advisory body to the United Nations Montreal Protocol Parties.

Professor Woodcock has been a member of TEAP, and Co-Chair of the Medical Technical Options Committee to the Montreal Protocol, a post he held between 1995 and 2015. In 2006 his environmental work was recognised with an OBE and in the following year he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the International Panel for Climate Change and Al Gore.

The Montreal Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer is the most successful UN environmental protocol, which has phased out CFCs. This has resulted in the first signs of recovery of the ozone hole this year, with normalisation of zone levels projected for 2060. However, the ozone-friendly replacements HFCs, used in air-conditioners and refrigerators, foams and aerosols are greenhouse gases, and they in turn need to be phased down.

After years of negotiations, the outcome of the Vienna talks in July, could pave the way to a final deal on the phasing down of HFCs being agreed at the meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Rwanda this October. This would require an amendment to the original 1989 Montreal Protocol to be able to control chemicals shown to have a negative effect on the environment, even if they do not harm the ozone. The Montreal Protocol structure is ideal to implement the HFC Phase-down as technical alternatives become available. John Kerry, addressing the meeting, stated that effective HFC controls could prevent 0.5 degrees C of global warming.

Ashley said "I originally got into the TEAP in 1995 to help manage the phase out of the final use of CFCs, from inhalers for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This was finally achieved this year, with the China completing transition of its inhaler manufacturers."

"It has been a long and at times slow road (more than 20 years and 80 meetings!) but the first signs of ozone recovery this year makes it all worthwhile," he added. "I now have the very real privilege to Co-Chair the TEAP, helping coordinate the responses from an amazingly diverse and driven group of experts, all pursuing a common goal."