Day 011 - 12 Jul 94 - Page 36
1 and sustain unprecedented levels of stratospheric
chlorine.
2
"14. In order to return to a chlorine loading of 2ppbv
3 by 2050, all short- lived halocarbons will need to be
phased out by 2030 at the latest. Reducing the releases
4 of methyl chloroform before this date could decrease the
peak chlorine loading, and would reduce the period over
5 which the highest chlorine loadings obtain."
6 Then there is a comment about bromine. Can we go right to
the end of this document? There is a separate sort of
7 appendix, or article, which we are not concerned about.
Within Chapter 3 at the back- Strategies to Reduce
8 Atmospheric Chlorine ---
9 "Conclusions. It is fully apparent that today's levels
of atmospheric chlorine, liberated predominately from man
10 made CFCs, have caused serious damage to the stratospheric
ozone layer.
11
"There are serious limitations in our understanding and
12 ability to quantify ozone depletion at the present level
of chlorine loading and in our ability to predict the
13 effects on stratospheric ozone of any further increases.
Possible effects on ozone depletion of changes in global
14 climate are largely unknown.
15 "Given these uncertainties, the priority must be to first
half the continuing rise in chlorine loading, and then to
16 substantial reduce it as quickly as possible."
17 You tell us that you were at a conference on this topic
only a week or two ago in Ireland. Has that discussion of
18 an overall decreased reduction in chlorine (possibly even
an extension, I do not know) loading in the atmosphere-
19 has that remained the received wisdom?
A. It has.
20
Q. What one is looking for is an overall reduction in
21 chlorine loading in the atmosphere.
A. Yes, as rapidly as possible.
22
Q. I want to pass on from that please to what is specific to
23 this case, which is McDonald's use of CFCs and HCFCs. We
know from the uncontested evidence of witnesses that
24 McDonald's announced they had decided they would phase out
CFCs in August 1987 and we think that they were out of use
25 completely within the McDonald's system by, I think, 1991
at the latest.
26 A. Yes.
27 Q. As we can see, that is well ahead of the requirements of
the Montreal Protocol, is it not?
28 A. Yes.
29 Q. What I want to ask you is this: We know that there now are
only two countries in the world in which McDonald's
30 operates (i.e. The Philippines and Turkey) where HCF- 22
is still used as a blowing agent for McDonald's packaging.
