News

The theme for the 2022 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, to be marked on 16 September, is Montreal Protocol@35: global cooperation protecting life on earth. The theme recognises the wider impact the Montreal Protocol has on climate change and the need to act in collaboration, forge partnerships and develop global cooperation to address climate challenges and protect life on earth for future generations.Theme in the six UN official languages Arabic

Bangkok, Thailand, 16 May 2022 ‒ Forty-seven participants (male 27, female 20) from National Ozone Units (NOUs) and Customs authorities of countries in the Southeast Asia (SEA) Network gathered virtually on 10 May for a thematic meeting on the Adoption and Implementation of ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature 2022 (AHTN2022) for HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) to enhance monitoring, reporting, verification and enforcement (MRVE) of national HFC licensing systems.    

Bangkok, Thailand, 13 May 2022 ‒ National Ozone Officers (NOOs) from the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) – Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu – as well as representatives from the Government of Australia, the Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers Association (AREMA) of Australia, and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), came together virtually on 4 May 2022 to address the implementation of the Regional HCFC Phase-out Mana

Bangkok, Thailand, 29 April 2022 ‒ The National Ozone Officers in the South-Asia (SA), Southeast Asia (SEA) and Pacific Islands (PIC) Networks virtually gathered and agreed to have their first in-person Network meeting from 17-19 July 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand, back-to-back with the forty-fourth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (OEWG-44) from 11-16 July 2022 and the Fifth Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (ExMOP5) on 16 July 2022.  

Paris, 12 May 2022 ‒ To celebrate World Refrigeration Day, June 26, UNEP OzonAction, the Secretariat of Word Refrigeration Day (WRD), Chefs4thePlanet, and the

The Asia Pacific Regional Ozone2Climate Art Contest - Popular Voting is NOW OPEN until 31 August 2022                                             

Paris, 11 April 2022 – The cooling sector delivers a tremendous number of benefits ranging from public health to food security to productive and comfortable workplaces and homes. It is a truly vital, dynamic, and rapidly growing field that represents a significant source of high-quality employment worldwide.

Bangkok, Thailand, 21 March 2022 – The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office organized a virtual thematic workshop on the integration of Good Servicing Practices (GSP) into national Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Systems to promote a competency-based certification programme to continue efforts on knowledge and experience sharing among National Ozone Officers’ Networks of South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands Countries

Bangkok, Thailand, 14 February 2022 – The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office convened a virtual thematic workshop for National Ozone Officers from the Pacific Islands, South Asia and Southeast Asia Networks to further develop and advance the Asia Pacific Regional Ozone2Climate Art Contest.

Damascus, Syria, 31 January 2022 ‒ The UNEP OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) in West Asia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment of the Syrian Arab Republic, organized a physical workshop in Damascus on 18 January to present the outcomes of the Kigali Enabling Activities project that was completed in 2021, to initiate the preparation of the national Kigali Implementation Plan (KIP) to phase down  Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and to launch the implementation of the Hydroc

Bangkok, 23 November 2021 - The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), in the Asia-Pacific Office, in collaboration with UNEP’s National Environmental Law Unit organized a thematic workshop on Strengthening Enforcement of National Montreal Protocol Legislations for National Ozone Unit (NOU) staff and Enforcement Officers of South Asia (SA), Southeast Asia (SEA), and the Pacific Island Countries (PIC).

Paris, 15 December 2021 ‒  Refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pumps (RACHP) is a broad sector that includes the installation, commissioning, maintenance, repair, servicing and decommissioning of both domestic and commercial refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. This sector is essential for many aspects of modern life, including for example, protecting public health, helping ensure food safety, and providing comfortable and healthy working and living environments. Both women and men deliver these vital services and products to us on a daily basis.

                                             “Heat Pumps to Save the World” Label of the 52nd International HVACR Congress and Exhibition in Belgrade, Serbia, 1-3 December 2021Belgrade, 1-3 December 2021 - As part of Serbia’s HCFC phase-out management plan (HPMP), the

Bangkok, 20 October 2021 ‒ On 20 October, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office organized a thematic workshop on the Digitalization of Licensing and Quota Systems for National Ozone Unit (NOU) staff and Customs Officers of South Asia (SA), Southeast Asia (SEA), and the Pacific Island Countries (PIC). 104 participants (38 female and 66 male) from 23 regional countries and representatives from Australia and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) attended the meeting.

Beijing, 3 November 2021 ‒ China began officially implementing its hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) import and export licensing system as of 1 November 2021, one and a half months earlier than the date stipulated by the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, according to a recent announcement jointly made by China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

Bangkok, 14 October 2022 ‒ The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office organized a virtual orientation workshop for 69 (32 female and 37 male) new National Ozone Officers (NOO) and other staff members of 24 National Ozone Units (NOUs) in two sessions consecutively on 12 and 14 October 2021.

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.

UNEP OzonAction would like to express its deepest sympathy and condolences for the passing of Dr. Charity Maeleera Kpabep, a refrigeration engineer from Nigeria, who worked with UNIDO as an expert for a Montreal Protocol project since 2019.

Thimphu, Bhutan, 4 October 2021 – With active local organization of the National Ozone Unit (NOU) of Bhutan, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), assisted Bhutan to deliver a four-day virtual training programme on Good Servicing Practices on low-GWP and flammable refrigerants. Eighty-seven participants (including 13 female technicians) from Bhutan and Asia-Pacific region attended the workshop between 28 June and 1 July 2021.

Bangkok, 16 September 2021 ‒ “How can our daily life contribute to the ozone layer protection?” Mr. Siwakorn Maneethein, a third-year student of Geological Sciences at the Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Thailand, enthusiastic about sustainable natural resources and environmental preservation shared his understanding of this significant question at a press conference of the launch of the Asia Pacific Ozone2Climate Art Contest on World Ozone Day, 16 September 2021.

Doha, Qatar, 08 September 2021 ‒ The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), West Asia Office, in cooperation with the National Ozone Unit (NOU) of the Government of State of Qatar, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, organized a successful online technical workshop for Stakeholders on the Development and Adoption of International Standards, as part of the country’s efforts to accomplish the tasks under the Kigali Amendment Enabling Activities project.

Paris, France, 8 September 2021 ‒ With the world now in the midst of the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus continues to have multifaceted, intense, and far-reaching impacts on our societies in terms of lost lives, strained medical systems and disrupted economies. Part of the way we can save lives, protect our societies, and recover quickly is to follow expert guidance of the medical community, which includes physical distancing, wearing masks, keeping rooms well-ventilated, avoiding crowds, and cleaning our hands.

Damascus, Syria, 19 August 2021 ‒ The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), West Asia Office, in cooperation with the National Ozone Unit (NOU) of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ministry of Local Administration and Environment, organized a successful two-day (17-18 July 2021) online training for technicians on Leak Detection, Safe handling of refrigerants and Good Practices and a Consultation Meeting for Stakeholders on the Development and Adoption of International Standards as part of their Country Programme to accomplish the tasks un

Bangkok, Thailand, 23 July 2021 – Sixteen participants (seven female and nine male) from seven Pacific Island Countries (PIC) joined a virtual meeting on 23 July 2021 to discuss the use of mandatory hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) cylinder labelling requirements to further enhance the enforcement of their national licensing systems. The meeting was hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office.

Bangkok, Thailand, 2 August 2021 –  The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office organized two virtual meetings on 27 and 28 July 2021, to assist National Ozone Officers from the Regional Networks of Ozone Officers for South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Pacific Island Countries to gain a better understanding of various mechanisms to employ for more accurate data collection and data