Bangkok, Thailand, 24 September 2021 – To support National Ozone Officers (NOOs) from the Regional Networks of South Asia (SA), Southeast Asia (SEA), and Pacific Island Countries (PICs) in exchanging ideas on how to continue delivering approved activities under the Multilateral Fund in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office organized three virtual network meetings consecutively on 17, 19 and 25 August 2021. A total of 120 participants (74 female and 46 male) from 34 countries in the region participated in discussions, which covered the latest policy and technical developments from recent Montreal Protocol meetings, National Ozone Unit (NOU) operations amid COVID-19, a review of the Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) services provided to countries and ongoing/planned regional activities and listening to the needs of countries.
Similarly, due to the global pandemic, the Meeting of the Parties (MOP), the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) and the Executive Committee (ExCom) meetings have also, since 2020, been conducted virtually. Despite this challenging situation and its accompanying restrictions, some important agenda items were delivered, and discussions/decisions were made at various meetings.
The recently held SA-SEA-PIC network meetings provided an opportunity for the NOOs to dialogue with one another, make recommendations, as well as raise questions regarding the implications of COVID-19 and the MOP/Excom meetings and decisions on NOU operations and Montreal Protocol related activities. The meetings also covered the cooling sector where hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC)/hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are the most widely consumed substances in a majority of countries and highlighted the linkages between the cooling sector developments and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The meetings also provided an update on alternative technologies development in the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector by industry experts.
It is worth noting that while the network countries all experienced some delays in executing projects, project submissions that were planned in 2021 still went forward successfully as evidenced by the new projects approved including the Kigali Implementation Plan (KIP) preparatory projects. The countries demonstrated their resilience despite the pandemic crisis and found new ways to conduct business such as adopting virtual platforms and smaller in-person meetings based on safety and social distancing guidelines. Impacts of the pandemic on reduced HFC demand continues to be of concern as 2020 through 2022 are baseline setting years for most countries in the region.
Strengthening cooperation with Customs was another topic tabled in the meeting agenda which aims to maintain HCFC issues mainstreamed into all related aspects of Customs functional areas and their daily operations. Participants exchanged their views on data exchange/reconciliation with Customs, 2022 Harmonised Codes, National Single Window Systems, institutionalizing customs training through the new customs training curriculum, risk profiling for Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)/HFC trade, post-clearance auditing, review of trade data in customs declarations, joint field inspections in domestic markets, and joint campaigns against illegal trade of ODS.
The programme also included a review of CAP services and provided additional resources for the initial obligations of the Kigali Amendment, Article 7 data reporting for HFCs, country-by-country growth analysis of HFCs, a country-by-country review of HCFC import/export data discrepancy and overviews on various upcoming knowledge products including public awareness products, especially those developed for the region. As of 24 September 2021, 21 countries in the region have formally ratified the Kigali Amendment and 23 have their HFC licensing systems in place.
Finally, the three meetings also provided an update on promotional material for the Asia-Pacific Regional Ozone2Climate Art Contest and the successful virtual RAC Servicing Technicians Training series. These trainings filled a gap when most NOUs in the Asia-Pacific region were unable to organize them for the servicing sector due to COVID-19 restrictions. Eighty-four training modules (22 for SA, 28 for SEA 32 for PIC) were delivered between March and August 2021. An overview of the Network/Thematic workshops already held in 2021 and those upcoming in the remaining quarter of the year were also discussed. The networks will have an opportunity to plan the 2022 thematic meetings/workshops towards the end of the year.
For more information:
Mr. Shaofeng Hu
Senior Montreal Protocol Regional Coordinator
UNEP, CAP, Asia and Pacific Office
Email: hus[at]un.org
