An Australian scientist has won international acclaim for his achievements in protecting the world's ozone layer.
Dr Jonathan Banks of CSIRO's Stored Grain Research Laboratory (SGRL) in Canberra has received the United States' Environment Protection Agency's 1996 Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award. He received the honour in recognition of his exemplary efforts to protect the ozone layer.
The award was presented yesterday as part of the International CFC and Halon Alternatives Conference.
Methyl bromide is a fumigant which has been identified as a significant cause of ozone depletion in the atmosphere. Dr Banks was the inaugural chairman of the international Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee which first met in the Hague in 1993.
Last year the Committee delivered a major report recommending ways to limit methyl bromide use which was adopted by the nations which signed the Montreal Protocol on protection of the ozone layer.
"If successful, the controls will mean a 25 per cent reduction in methyl bromide emissions by 2001 and be phased out completely by 2010 in developed countries," the Chief of the CSIRO Division of Entomology which incorporates SGRL, Dr Paul Wellings, said today.
"Receiving this award is an excellent achievement and a testament to all Dr Banks' efforts with the methyl bromide working group" said Dr Wellings.
"The MBTOC report included important features directly attributable to Dr Banks' input and chairmanship" said Dr Wellings. "It is an important source document containing much original data. It has been widely distributed and quoted" he said.
In mid-1995, Dr Banks organised case study reports for alternatives to four critical methyl bromide uses: cut flowers, tomatoes, strawberries and cucurbits. In doing so he countered claims that there were no alternatives to methyl bromide in use for these key areas. Late last year Dr Banks also led regional demonstration workshops in Zimbabwe and Colombia under UNEP and Australian Government support. These were critically influential in convincing Parties to the Montreal Protocol that methyl bromide alternatives were available in key use areas.
Further information: Jenny Goldie, tel: (06) 246 4194