News

COUNTRIES CELEBRATING WORLD OZONE DAY AROUND THE GLOBE

The UNEP OzonAction Knowledge Maps tool was developed to provide, the National Ozone Units (NoUs) and different UNEP’s partners, with a simple tool to help them access data and information about relevant stakeholders, who are mainly involved in the implementation of programmes and projects under the Montreal Protocol (MP) supported by Multilateral Fund (MLF).

           

Paris, France, 17 March 2021 – Since the launch of the first World Refrigeration Day (WRD) in the margins of the Second Global Inter-Regional and Parallel Network Meetings for National Ozone Officers in February 2019, UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) OzonAction has been actively engaged as a main partner with the WRD Secretariat to promote this celebratory day for the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.

The OzonAction informal prior informed consent mechanism (iPIC) 2021 annual report provides a concise summary of the operation of iPIC queries in 2020 as well as providing a summary of data from the last decade to show the evolution of the platform and the new features of the upgraded platform. This report is intended to present iPIC’s successes and encourage further usage of the platform both from new users and to inspire current members to further engage in the iPIC process.

UNEP OzonAction released the technical brief on refrigerant cylinder labelling (English, Russian). It is recommended to implement mandatory labelling of refrigerant cylinders prior to the freeze of the HFC consumption at the baseline level. For most developing countries, the HFC freeze will start on 1 January 2024. This technical brief encourages Governments and National Ozone Officers to establish or amend national legislation requiring mandatory labelling of refrigerant cylinders and explains what information should be included in refrigerant cylinder labelling.

FREE-OF-CHARGE REGISTRATION (https://kgh2020.com/ - USE CHROME OR FIREFOX) 51st International HVAC&R Congress and Exhibition in Belgrade, Serbia, 2-4 December 2020 (virtual event) Technology roundtable on energy-efficient, ozone layer-friendly and climate-friendly technologies of Serbia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and UNEP OzonAction.

OzonAction is very pleased to announce two exciting side events which will be held as part of the 32nd Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. Due to the constraints on holding large meetings and travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, these side events will be held online. Despite these limitations we have a number of excellent speakers who will ensure the highest quality of these events. The side events cover two very relevant and timely issues.

Following an analysis of HFC baseline scenarios for Article 5 group 1 countries in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region, it appeared that most countries would not “automatically” meet the HFC freeze in 2024 without putting in place additional HFC policy and legislative measures. If countries allowed a fixed annual HFC growth rate of 10%, the resulting HFC consumptions in 10 out of 11 countries (91%) would exceed the freeze level in 2024.

The ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs a portion of the sun radiation; therefore, ozone layer depletion has been linked to many harmful effects, including skin cancer, cataracts, and damage to some crops and marine life.

National Ozone Officers have the great responsibility of managing the allocation and monitoring of quotas for substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol. This process can be complex with many importers, especially if the country imports a range of different hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and mixtures containing HCFCs. To address this challenge, OzonAction developed a new desktop application that helps Ozone Officers with the tasks of planning, calculating, monitoring and managing consumption quotas and licences.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW HOW COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD COMMEMORATED WORLD OZONE DAY, 16 September 2020 --------------------------------------------

As part of the 2020 celebrations for the World Refrigeration Day (WRD); the WRD Secretariat, ASHRAE, European Partnership for Energy and Environment (EPEE), the Global Food Cold Chain Council (GFCCC), the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) and UNEP OzonAction are jointly raising the awareness of the importanc

In 2019, ASHRAE and UNEP OzonAction introduced for the first time an international award program titled “Lower-GWP Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Innovation Award” The award program intends to promote innovative design, research and practice by recognizing people who have developed or implemented innovative technological concepts applied in developing countries to minimize global warming potential (GWP) through refrigeration and air-conditioning management.

The Informal Prior informed consent system (iPIC) has been completely overhauled and updated OzonAction is delighted to release the latest updated and streamlined version of the online Informal Prior-Informed Consent (iPIC) platform. Responding to comments and feedback we have changed how the system looks and operates.

This meeting has been organized by the Regional Montreal Protocol Network for Europe and Central Asia (ECA network) of UNEP Law Division's OzonAction Programme in cooperation with Ministry of Environmental Protection of Serbia, the national HVAC&R Association SMEITS / KGH and UNDP Serbia.

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.

 Nomination form in EnglishФорма номинации на русском языке

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

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).

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.