News

In late November and mid-December 2019, both the Maldives and Sri Lanka, in cooperation with UNEP OzonAction and the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigerating Institute (AHRI), advanced the Refrigerant Driving License (RDL) program by conducting technicians training sessions under the pilot stage of the RDL program targeting 31 local technicians who were trained and tested against RDL minimum requirements of competencies and skills.

The following six stories from China are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."

Torugart, Kyrgyzstan, 11 December 2019  The first X-ray equipment for trucks has been installed at the Torugart checkpoint in the Naryn province of Kyrgyzstan which is connected through the Torugart mountain pass with the Xinjiang region of China. It is one of the highest mountain roads of the country at an elevation of 3,752 meter above sea level and located in the Tian Shan mountains. The trade volume between China and Kyrgyzstan is estimated to be at least USD 2 billion per year.

The following five stories from China are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."

22 November 2019, Kampala, Uganda  ̶  Today saw the close of a three-day twinning workshop and border dialogues for National Ozone Officers and Customs officials from countries of the East African Region – Africa Anglophone Network.

OzonAction Scoop number 5  on The Montreal Protocol and the Sustainable Development Goals explores how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognize that improving human health and well-being, including ending poverty and stimulating economic growth for all, must go hand-in-hand with protecting the environment on which we all depend.

The following stories from Bulgaria and Canada are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry." VIOLETA IVANOVA (BULGARIA) I was born, and have always lived and worked, in Sofia, the capital city of a beautiful country called Bulgaria.

Rome, Italy, 8 November 2019 – Through organizing six technical sessions and signing five memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with key global refrigeration and air-conditioning associations, UNEP OzonAction is fostering ties with key industry stakeholders and experts from the HVAC&R community.

Ashgabat, 30 September - 2 October 2019 - The Government of Turkmenistan hosted a series of meetings and a full-day stakeholder consultation with high-level Government representatives and experts, during the 3-day visit of Mr. Gilbert Bankobeza, Senior Legal Officer of the Ozone Secretariat in Nairobi, and Mr. Halvart Koeppen, Coordinator of the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Montreal Protocol Network of UNEP OzonAction in Paris.

ATLANTA, Nov. 6, 2019 – ASHRAE and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) have announced the project selections for the 2019 ASHRAE-UNEP OzonAction Lower-GWP Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Innovation Awards. The annual international award program promotes innovative design, research and practice by recognizing people who have developed or implemented innovative technological concepts applied in developing countries to promote lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants through refrigeration and air-conditioning applications.

The following stories from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana and Brazil are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry." GORDON TICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA I was born in Banja Luka on March 31, 1964, where I completed elementary school and high school. I entered the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Thermotechnics and Motorization in 19n3. I graduated in April 1989.

 Nomination form in EnglishФорма номинации на русском языке

The following storiesy from Bangladesh, Barbados, and Bolivia are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."

The following stories from five women in Australia are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."1. ROXI AND WENDY KENNY While Wendy says she fell into the industry by chance, Roxi believes that the RAC industry chose her.

Ulaanbaatar, 29 August 2019 – The Mongolian Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the National Ozone Authority of Mongolia in cooperation with UN Environment Programme (UNEP), organized an “Ozone2Climate (O2C) Technologies Roadshow and Industry Roundtable” in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 26-27 August 2019, with participation of industry, research institutes, education and training centers, and government agencies.

1.  CLICK HERE to view World Ozone Day activities around the globe.2. The Sectretary-General's World Ozone Day message

In my career, I have been fortunate to work in a variety of industries, from manufacturing to sports event management, where I have gained experience in supporting women in male-dominated environments. I have also gained a wealth of experience from my role as the Community Sponsorship and Marketing Manager for the Aberfeldie Sports Club. The Sports Club is committed to “Inspiring Women Through Football” with participation of female players in the Youth Girls and Senior Women’s Team. Now I am able to transfer my expertise into my current role in the RAC sector.

Koror, Palau, 16 August 2019 — Besides training of enforcement officers, what other practices are effective for monitoring and enforcing national laws and regulations relating to hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and other ozone depleting substances (ODS)?

Koror, Palau, 12 August 2019 — What are the challenges and policy options for the Pacific Island Countries (PIC) to sustain compliance with Montreal Protocol obligations notwithstanding that most countries have achieved more than 90% reduction in HCFC consumption in 2018?  How should the PIC countries prepare themselves to meet initial obligations under the Kigali Amendment especially in ensuring

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer requires Parties to the Amendment to put into place an import and export licensing system for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 1st  January 2019 (or two years later if required).

The following story is an extract from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."

Cebu, 30 July 2019 — What policies and programmes have worked well for our countries under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer? What needs strengthening? How do we prepare ourselves to meet new commitments?

Asuncion, 20 August 2019 — International illegal trade in environmentally sensitive commodities such as ozone depleting substances, toxic chemicals, hazardous wastes, endangered species and living modified organisms, is an international problem with serious consequences. It directly threatens human health and the environment; contributes to the loss of species; results in revenue loss for governments; and undermines the success of international environmental agreements by circumventing agreed rules and procedures.

If you ask the average person on the street who they think designs, manufactures, installs and services the refrigeration and air conditioning equipment that cools our homes and offices, keeps our food fresh and preserves our vaccines, most people would not typically think of a woman. And yet, they should. Women engineers, technicians, trainers and professors are increasingly working in this traditionally male-dominated field and making significant contributions to its professional development.

BANGKOK, 3 July 2019 — What happens to refrigerants after they enter a country? Are there any refrigerants that enter the market improperly? What can be done when you find them? These and other questions were considered at an event organized by UN Environment OzonAction Compliance Assistance Program (CAP) in the margins of the 41st Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol.