Paris, FRANCE, 26 February 2019 - UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction organized the Second OzonAction Global Inter-Regional and Parallel Networks Meeting for National Ozone Officers from 17-20 February 2019 on the premises of UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. These events were organised by the OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) as part of UNEP’s work programme as an Implementing Agency of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
This event was designed to help National Ozone Officers from Article 5 (developing) countries address emerging needs under the Protocol’s hydrochlorofluourocarbon (HCFC) phase out and to prepare for the ratification and initial implementation phase of the Kigali Amendment, which entered into force on 1 January 2019. The meetings reviewed the progress made in the regions and facilitated the sharing of experiences with regards to the implementation of the Montreal Protocol. It was designed around the following themes:
• Preparing countries to meet the 35% HCFC phase out target and compliance monitoring
• Exploring the link between the ongoing HCFC phase out and the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phase down
• Considering data reporting requirements, data collection strategies and “data monitoring”
• Reviewing legislation, licensing and quota systems to address Kigali Amendment requirements
• Strengthening enforcement strategies to control trade in HCFCs/HFCs and combatting illegal trade
• Reviewing the needs and options in the refrigeration servicing sector
• Understanding technology markets, barriers and opportunities.
The 315 participants included National Ozone Officers from 129 Article 5 countries, representatives from four countries with economies in transition, representatives from ten non-Article 5 countries/bilateral agencies and the European Union, experts from 13 international organsiations, non-governmental organisations, industry associations, and professional associations, members of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and the Refrigeration Technical Options Committee, the Multilateral Fund Secretariat, the Ozone Secretariat, Implementing Agencies (UNDP, UNIDO, World Bank), UNEP, and observers.
