JAPAN

Vehicle Firms Phasing Out Ozone Depleters: Car makers say they will stop using ahead of an international deadline chemicals that damage the earth’s ozone layer. The chemicals are chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. The 1987 Montreal Protocol calls for countries to ban production and use of CFCs by 2000, but the worldwide elimination of the chemicals is expected to be advanced to 1996 when the nations meet in November, according to the Japan Industrial Conference for Ozone Layer Protection. Japan is due to cut its use of CFCs to 68,400 metric tons in 1992 from 120,000 tons in 1986, CFC producers said.