News

Prolonged heat waves and extreme weather are predicted for many parts of the world this summer. Temperature becomes the news, and with it, global demand for cooling rises.

Maputo, Mozambique, 10-12 June – The Regional Network Meeting for National Ozone Officers (NOOs) of the English-speaking African Countries was held in Maputo, Mozambique from 10-12 June 2024. Organized by UNEP OzonAction’s Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team in Africa in collaboration with Mozambique’s Ministry of Land and Environment, the meeting aimed to provide an interactive forum for NOOs to exchange experiences, develop skills, and share knowledge and ideas with their counterparts from across the region.

Koror, the Republic of Palau, 12 – 14 June 2024 – UNEP’s OzonAction Asia-Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team organized the Thematic Workshop on Finalization of Stage I of the Regional Pacific Island Countries (PICs) Kigali Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) Implementation Plan and Other Multilateral Fund Projects.

Guangzhou, People's Republic of China, 21 – 24 May 2024 – UNEP’s OzonAction Asia-Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team organized the Energy Efficiency Twinning Workshop for Montreal Protocol Officers, Energy Efficiency Policy Makers, and Financial Mechanisms Focal Points to Support Kigali Amendment Objectives alongside the Joint Network Meeting of South Asia and Southeast Asia National Ozone Officers.

Cotonou, Benin 3 to 7 June 2024 – Twenty (20) Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) experts from eight African Francophone countries – Benin, Chad, Cabo Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Niger, Senegal and Togo (14 male, 6 female) successfully participated in the theory, practice training and certification session on servicing best practices and safe handling of F-Gases in refrigeration.

Santiago, Chile, 31 May 2024 – The launch of the Kigali Amendment Implementation Plan (KIP) was celebrated in Chile from 28 to 30 May 2024.

Nouakchott, Mauritania, 21 May 2024 –The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Africa Office-Francophone Network in cooperation with the Government of Mauritania organized a training workshop for new National Ozone Officers (NOOs) and staff of the National Ozone Units (NOUs). The workshop is part of the Regional Network service OzonAction's CAP provides to Article 5 countries in its role as an Implementing Agency of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol.

Paris, France, 13 May 2024 - ASHRAE and UNEP's OzonAction have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to renew and expand their long-standing collaboration on environmental protection and sustainable development in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors. Ginger Scoggins, ASHRAE President, signed the agreement at UNEP's Paris Duty Station during meetings with Jim Curlin, Head of the OzonAction Branch. Patricia Kameri-Mbote, Director of UNEP's Law Division, signed on behalf of UNEP.

Lima, Peru, 2 May 2024 – In Latin America, women’s participation in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector is increasing. Peru has taken a significant step in this regard, providing space for the validation of the Standard of Labor Competence of Good Practices in RAC through female leadership.

Dubai, The United Arab Emirates, 30 April 2024 − The UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team in West Asia hosted its 2024 Network Meeting for National Ozone Officers in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on April 24-25, 2024. The event brought together representatives from National Ozone Units across West Asia, alongside key regional and international partners, and experts.

Lima, Peru, 30 April 2024 − Latin America is stepping up its efforts to transform the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector into a more inclusive, diverse, and safe space for everyone. Peru has taken a significant step in becoming the second gender pilot project of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction in Latin America.

Paris, 9 April 2024 – ASHRAE and UNEP OzonAction are pleased to announce the opening for submissions for the 2024 Lower GWP Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Innovation Award until the closing date, 15 August 2024.

Beijing, People's Republic of China, 24 April 2024 – United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team in Asia and the Pacific successfully co-organized the 2024 Ozone2Climate Technology Roadshow and Industry Roundtable from 8-9 April 2024.  This event took place during the 35th International Exhibition for Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, Heating and Ventilation, Frozen Food Processing, Packaging and Storage, also known as the China Refrigeration Exhibition 2024.

The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Network implements enforcement–related activities since its inception in 2003 including regional enforcement meetings, border dialogues and a series of awards for Customs and Enforcement Officers. This year’s ECA network and enforcement meeting takes place in April 2024 in Tirana, Albania.

San Salvador, El Salvador, 16 April 2024 − During the week of March 22 to 28, a delegation from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), OzonAction Branch for Latin America carried out a successful mission in El Salvador.

11 April 2024  – UNEP Law Division OzonAction’s Europe and Central Asia (ECA) network successfully organized its 33rd online meeting on 20 March 2024 , on the topic “ENERGY EFFICIENCY PILOT PROJECTS IN MOTION – the why, how, who and when.” The meeting focused on the Multilateral Fund Secretariat’s funding window for energy-efficiency pilot projects.

Au Bénin, l’abandon progressif des substances appauvrissant la couche d’ozone a non seulement contribué à protéger la couche d’ozone pour les générations actuelles et futures mais a aussi renforcé la communauté internationale dans sa lutte contre les changements climatiques.

Today, on the occasion of International Women's Day (IWD), UNEP OzonAction would like to express our best wishes and sincere thanks to all our female colleagues working in National Ozone Units for your leadership, outstanding dedication, great intellectual input, and tireless work on the Montreal Protocol! This treaty is often referred to as the most successful multilateral environmental agreement to date, and both women and men take equal credit in making this amazing achievement possible.

Panama City, 2 February 2024 – The UNEP OzonAction Branch marked the successful conclusion of its pivotal workshop titled ‘Enhancing Communication for Effective Global Compliance with the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment’ held in Panama City on 24-26 January 2024.

Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 22 February 2024 – UNEP’s OzonAction Asia-Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team organized the Thematic Meeting on Establishment and Implementation of Competency-Based Certification, back-to-back with the Thematic Workshop on Strategy of Stage I of the Kigali HFC Implementation Plan (KIP) and Integration with the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage II among the Pacific Island Countries (PICs).  Both meetings were held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from 7-10 February 2024.

Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 12 February 2024 – UNEP’s OzonAction Asia-Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team organized the Twinning Workshop for the Pacific Island Countries (PIC) Montreal Protocol Officers, Energy-Efficiency Policy Makers, and Financial Mechanisms Focal Points to Support Kigali Amendment Objectives.

Chicago, USA (January 22, 2024) – UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction and ASHRAE have an ongoing collaboration spanning almost two decades to help developing countries manage an environmentally-responsible, smooth and safe transition to new refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) technologies and practices in support of the goals set by the Montreal Protocol and the Paris Climate Accord:  replacing ozone depleting substances (ODS), promoting lower global warming potentials (GWPs), and enhancing energy efficiency.

New Qualification Programme for Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Technicians: Refrigerant Driving License available for use by National Ozone Units

UNEP OzonAction is pleased to exhibit on a weekly basis the 36 winning pieces of art from the 2022 “Asia Pacific Regional Ozone2Climate Art Contest”.  The 3rd place winners in the Youth Photography category are displayed below.