United Nations Environment Programme

Paro, 15 May 2012 – Governments of Asia-Pacific together with international organizations and donor countries have all flown to the lush, green mountains of the tiny Kingdom of Bhutan for the Joint Network Meeting of Ozone Officers of South Asia and Southeast Asia and the Pacific starting today until 17 May 2012 in Paro.  Read more...

 

Port Vila, 3 May 2012 - The Pacific Islands Countries (PICs) are strengthening their national systems to control the import and export of harmful chemicals regulated under the international treaty known as the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.  Read more 

New York, 22 April 2012 - Three days before Earth Day 2012, New York’s most popular city attraction- the Times Square, added another facet of appeal with the unveiling of the ‘Sky Patching’ sculpture of Goddess Nüwa” on 19 April 2012. Read more... 

Vacancy Announcement – Closing Date: 7 May 2012 – Project Manager, Consultancy Contract, 6 months beginning 1st June 2012, this consultancy is located in the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) in Panama City. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Network Coordinator of the OzonAction Compliance Assistant Programme. Read more > 

Beijing, 13 April 2012 – Showcased as part of the UNEP OzonAction booth at the 2012 Ozone2Climate Technology Roadshow in Beijing, China, the Ozone2Climate Technology Virtual Exhibition platform has interested Chinese refrigeration and air conditioning companies to participate in the virtual platform.  Read more
 

Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 13 April 2012 – Technicians from various businesses met in Rarotonga on 4 April 2012 to form the Cook Islands’ Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Association. Read more
 

Beijing, 12 April 2012 - Key industry experts and senior government officers from China, Japan, the United States together with refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) professionals and trade buyers from all over the world gathered today for the "Ozone2Climate Industry Roundtable" at the New China International Exhibition Centre in Beijing to discuss chemical and technology options to replace the ozone-depleting Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) to be phased out starting 1 January 2013.   Read more
 

Bangkok, 4 April 2012 – The OzonAction Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme – Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP - ROAP) in collaboration with the China Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry Association (CRAA) are organizing the “2012 Ozone2Climate Technology Roadshow and Industry Roundtable” from 11 to 13 April 2012 back-to-back with the 23rd International Exhibition for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Heating and Ventilation, Frozen Food Processing, Packaging and Storage (CRH 2012) in Beijing, one of the three most influential annual exhibitions in the world, and the largest of its kind in the Asia and the Pacific region.  Read more  Beijing 2012 Ozone2Climate Technology Roadshow and Industry Roundtable website
 

Bishkek, 27 March 2012 - The Annual Meeting of the Regional Ozone Network for Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Network of Ozone Officers being held back to back with the Expert Meeting for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers and Architects opened today in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.   Read more
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Dropped down from their home in the stratosphere on 22-23 March 2012 to deliver important messages to children and adults about how they can protect the environment during the  9th International Weather & Climate Forum and the World Meteorological Day.  View photos 

 P4 Information Management Officer, OzonAction, Paris - Deadline 12 May 2012 

Dhaka, 15 March 2012 - "Once upon a time, there wasa system in this plant on this site that used a gas called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to manufacture Metered Dose Inhalers (MDI).  For the benefit of future generations, this production facility stopped using CFCs."
 Read more
 

Bangkok, 15 March 2012 – Today, Customs and enforcement experts in the Asia-Pacific region completed a four-day workshop on monitoring and control of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).   Read more
 

Bangkok, 12 March 2012 – Refrigeration experts from 17 countries in Asia and the Pacific convened today in Bangkok City, Thailand, to kick off a four-day workshop on Harmonization of Training Material and Methodologies for Good Practices in the Refrigeration Servicing Sector...  Read more
 

The UNEP OzonAction Branch is deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of Prof. Frank Sherwood Rowland (1927-2012), the world-reknown scientist whose contributions to the knowledge of atmospheric chemistry about the ozone layer have benefited this and future generations.   Read more

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On behalf of the parties to the Montreal Protocol, Marco Gonzalez, Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat, expressed sadness at Professor Sherwood Rowland passing away and gratitude for his life’s work: “With his amazing intellect, pioneering instinct and unwavering commitment, Professor Rowland saved the world from a major crisis”…
The Ozone Secretariat would like to invite you to share your memories and messages to Professor Rowland’s family. Please click here to learn more.
The Ozone Secretariat would like to invite you to share your memories and messages to Professor Rowland’s family. Please click here to learn more.

 

The Ozone Secretariat received a notification from the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs in New York to the effect that on 1 March 2012 Zimbabwe became a party to the Montreal and Beijing Amendments to the Montreal Protocol. Congratulations to Zimbabwe Government for all the efforts made to ensure the ratification of these two important Amendments and welcome to the Montreal Protocol Family.  Status of Ratification
 

Letter from the Executive Secretary, Ozone Secretariat on preparations to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol and the 2012 International Day for the preservation of the Ozone Layer.  Click here to read the letter.

 

The report devotes a fairly large amount to end-of-life issues for refrigeration and air conditioning equipment in d eveloping countries, as well as export/trade issues.  Read more

 

United Nations Office of Legal Affairs in New York indicated that on 28 February 2012 Guinea became a party to the Copenhagen, Montreal and Beijing Amendments to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.  Read more
 

Job Title:  Head, OzonAction Branch, D1
Department/Office: United Nations Environment Programme
Location:  Paris
Posting Period: 29 November 2011 - 27 February 2012
Job Opening number:  11-ADM-UN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME-21516-R-PARIS
 Go to Job Opening
 

“…The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer – the protective shield that filters out dangerous levels of the sun’s ultra violet rays – is a case in point. It became clear in the 1980s that certain chemicals used in products such as fridges to fire-fighting equipment were attacking the ozone layer.  By 2010, this Unep treaty had coordinated the phase-out of over 100 of these harmful gases. “…  Read more 
Quote from the open editorial: “UNEP roots for green economy to generate growth, employment”, The Standard, 20 January  2012, By Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director.

 

Fourteen TV producers and directors from across the Asia-Pacific region this week explored the media’s role in spreading awareness about the links between ozone depletion and climate change.  Read more
 

Representatives from various governments, universities, non-government and international organizations met to discuss critical issues related to illegal trade in environmentally sensitive commodities today at the 12th Asian Regional Partners Forum on Combating Environmental Crime (ARPEC) in Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting was organized by the United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP-ROAP).   Read more
 

UNEP OzonAction is deeply saddened by the death of environmental film maker Robert Paul Lamb. Robert  was a widely respected thought leader and practitioner in factual TV production, and in communicating science and sustainable development issues using the media. He has produced a number of videos for OzonAction.  Ozone Day 2009 Video News Release |  Ozone Day 2009 Curtain Raiser: Montreal Protocol |  Tribute page on  tveap.org |  Tribute page on unep.org 
 

 The launching ceremony of Project REN will be on 8 February 2012 at 10:30 am, Bangkok, Thailand. The event will highlight the trends in the illegal trade of harmful chemicals and hazardous waste and details on Project REN.  Read more

 

Bangkok, 8 February 2012 – Today the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in cooperation with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) launched the Regional Enforcement Network for Chemicals and Waste (Project REN), a US$1.56 million project that aims at detecting and preventing illegal cross border trade of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), other harmful chemicals and hazardous waste in 25 countries of the Asia Pacific region.  Read more...
 

The launching ceremony of Project REN will be on 8 February 2012 at 10:30 am, Bangkok, Thailand. The event will highlight the trends in the illegal trade of harmful chemicals and hazardous waste and details on Project REN.  Read more
 

The 2012 World TV Awards, organized by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) in collaboration with UNEP OzonAction Programme, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP), is now open to all broadcasters in Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America and the Pacific from public, private sector and freelance producers. 
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20 January 2012 - Universal ratification of the ozone treaties has once again been achieved with the Republic of South Sudan, the newest UN Member State, becoming the 197th Party to ratify the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.  Read more...