Malé, Republic of the Maldives, 21–25 May 2023 – United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team in Asia and the Pacific organized a Network Meeting of South Asia (SA) National Ozone Officers (NOOs) and the Twinning National Ozone and Customs Officers Workshop on Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) / Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) Trade Control and Reporting. The Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology of the Maldives, H.E, Aminath Shauna, warmedy welcomed the participants to both meetings.
The three-day Network Meeting (21-23 May 2023) was organized to facilitate South Asia network countries to exchange experiences, good practices, and lessons learned in various areas under the implementation of the Montreal Protocol. SA NOOs discussed and brainstormed on several issues, including refrigerant management, data reporting, status of compliance, the development of the Kigali HFC phase-down implementation plans, and HFC phase-down strategies. Country experiences were shared. Participants recognized a need for engagement and intervention in the mobile air-conditioning (MAC) sector. As part of the Network Meeting, 2023 CAP services were discussed to identify support needed from UNEP CAP, including communications for awareness and outreach and gender mainstreaming.
Noting the critical roles of Customs authorities, the Green Customs Initiative capacity building workshop was organized in parallel with the Network Meeting. Its purpose was to educate the Customs authorities on their roles in the implementation of national legislation in compliance with multilateral environmental agreements.
Following the Network Meeting, the Twinning NOOs-Customs Workshop on ODS/HFC Trade Control and Reporting was conducted (24 – 25 May 2023) with the aim to build the capacity and cooperation of NOOs and Customs Officers and to establish a mutual understanding on strengthening monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms for ODS and HFC trade control. NOOs and Customs Officers discussed and identified existing challenges and innovative approaches to strengthen enforcement of the licensing system and improve efficiency of data tracking and monitoring to ensure accurate reporting.
Day-to-day cooperation between NOOs and Customs Authorities was highlighted for further strengthening and enhancement. Collaboration amongst different stakeholders is believed to effectively empower joint efforts into real-life impacts. Participants further discussed the digitalization of ODS/HFC Trade Data and Communication with Customs, as well as the management of confiscated and unwanted substances. Various methods to improve ODS/HFC trade data reconciliation between the data of NOUs and Customs authorities and to strengthen border control and Customs clearance of ODS/HFC shipments were explored.
“Under the implementation of the Montreal Protocol, Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) one of the harmful ozone-depleting gases has been completely phased out in the Maldives, 10 years ahead of the schedule. Reaching this milestone was possible due to the cooperation and collaboration among national and regional stakeholders. Efforts shall not yet cease. At the meetings, we further brainstormed and discussed on the prevention of 0.4 degrees Celsius of global temperature rise with HFC phase-down strategies and workplans,” said Ms. Miruza Mohamed, Director at the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldives.
The meetings were attended by 72 stakeholders (29 Female/43 Male) from 10 countries, including UNEP, refrigerant management experts, representatives from the Ozone Secretariat, the Multilateral Fund Secretariat, World Customs Organization (WCO) Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices (RILO), the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm conventions (BRS), Tradewater, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), as well as the National Ozone Units and Customs authorities.
UNEP CAP team and SA Network countries expressed their gratitude to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology of the Maldives for their kind hospitality without which the meetings would not have been possible.
The meetings were organized by UNEP’s OzonAction CAP (Asia and the Pacific Office) as part of its approved 2023 Work Programme under the Multilateral Fund.
For more information:
Ms. Elisa Rim
Montreal Protocol Programme Management Officer – South Asia Countries Network
UNEP, Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP)
Asia and Pacific Office
