Title: The level of awareness and product knowledge of service stakeholders in the importation and distribution of HCFC-22 in Botswana

Biography:

Bongayi Kudoma is a Lecturer and the Head of Department for Safety Management at BA ISAGO University in Francistown, Botswana. She has a long standing interest in environmental management issues with passion in climate change and ozone layer depletion mitigation and improving waste management systems which are some of the pressing issues we are facing today. In her thesis, she evaluated the phase-out management system of an ozone depleting substance, HCFC-22, and its environmental and socioeconomic implications. She recommended the use of a planning, policy formulation and implementation framework (Integrated National Tri-component HCFC-22 Phase-Out) that integrates and balances three fundamentals, namely, stakeholder involvement, the process and the plan enablers. She also serves as peer reviewer of the Journal: JOJ Wildlife and Biodiversity.

Abstract

Ozone depletion, global warming and climate change remain global issues of concern, with detrimental impacts on both human health and the environment. The consumption and release of ozone depleting substances (ODS) into the atmosphere are the main cause of ozone depletion. One such common anthropogenic ODS with high global warming potential which is targeted for phase-out under the Montreal protocol (MP) is Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22). The MP set to phase-out HCFC-22 with mandatory timelines and cut-off dates for its use by 2040 for Article 5 countries. To meet the HCFC-22 phase-out timelines, Botswana was required to develop and implement a country-level Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP), which aimed at embarking on national communications to disseminate information on the implementation process through capacitation of raising key stakeholders’ awareness, training and information exchange. The success of HCFC-22 phase-out strategy greatly depends on the participation of key stakeholders in the implementation process. The purpose of this study is focused on evaluating the level of awareness and product knowledge of stakeholders in the importation and distribution of HCFC-22 in Botswana. Methodology: 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. Findings: Questionnaire and interview results revealed that the level of HCFC-22 knowledge and awareness among stakeholders is moderate with notable inter-group variations. In particular, consumers had higher levels of HCFC-22 knowledge and awareness than other stakeholders, indicating gaps in awareness raising and training. The bulk (87%) of the stakeholders is well educated and experienced in ODS related service provision. Conclusion and Significance: This suggests that there are still gaps in information dissemination to key stakeholders and this remains a crucial discrepancy between the country’s HPMP success lead and lag indicators. Recommendation: Of note to the study is the fact that the frequency of awareness-raising initiatives is not sufficient as prescribed by the HPMP and these needs to be increased to make an impact. There is need to carefully select the communication media used in line with the media consumption habits of target markets. Awareness raising must start from the grassroots in the community.