Paris, France, 26 November 2020 ‒ The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction held two very relevant and timely side events as part of the 32nd Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. Due to the constraints on holding large meetings and travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, these side events were held online. Despite these limitations, several excellent speakers participated who ensured the highest quality of these events. The side events covered the following issues:
1) Installing, operating and servicing A/C systems in the times of COVID-19
On Monday 23 November 2020, OzonAction’s side event focused on the topic of the -installation, operation and servicing of air conditioning systems in the times of COVID-19. With the current pandemic, air-conditioning comes to the fore as a key player that can contribute significantly to minimising the likelihood of spreading such airborne viruses. It is also important to consider field practices of air-conditioning systems from a safety point of view for new existing systems.
This side event was organized in cooperation with four partners: ASHRAE; the European Association of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Contractors (AREA); the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE); and the China Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry Association (CRAA). The event featured examples of the best guidelines and references offered by key international industry associations, to be considered when installing, servicing and operating air-conditioning systems in the context of the COVID-19.
The four speakers at this event were, William Bahnfleth, Chair of the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force, Mr. Graeme Fox, Director at AREA, Mr. Vishal Kapur, Chair of the COVID-19 Task Force at ISHRAE and Dr. Baolong Wang, Vice Director of the Cleanroom Committee of the CRAA, and the moderator was Mr. James S. Curlin, Acting Head, UNEP OzonAction. The event was well attended and included an active Q and A session.
- A full video recording of the event is available on the OzonAction YouTube Channel
- The four presentations are available on the OzonAction Meeting Portal
2) Harmonised system codes for hydrofluorocarbons: What are the challenges and what can be done now?
On Tuesday 24 November 2020, OzonAction’s side event addressed the issue of Harmonised system codes for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). One of the important requirements of the Kigali Amendment is that an import and export licencing system for HFCs needs to be in place in each country that is Party to the Amendment (by 2021-extended deadline). To enable a licencing system to function effectively it is important for a government to be able to monitor and record imports and exports of each specific HFC individually. Import and export statistics are normally collected by customs officers using the international product nomenclature system - Harmonized System (HS). However, until the HS is revised in 2022, all HFCs are contained in a single HS code which does not allow differentiation of the individual chemicals or mixtures.
This side event provided an overview of the issue and explained a proactive interim approach, recommended by the World Customs Organization (WCO), to establish additional digits in the existing national HS codes to identify specific HFCs. The event also provided examples of interim approaches to address this serious challenge.
The three speakers at this event were, Mr. Daniel Cardozo, Technical Officer, World Customs Organization, Mr. Arno Kaschl, Policy Analyst, European Commission and Ms. Laisiana Tugaga, Trade and Revenue Management Adviser, Oceania Customs Organisation, and the moderator was Mr. James S. Curlin, Acting Head, UNEP OzonAction. The event was well attended and included an active Q and A session.
- A full video recording of the event is available on the OzonAction YouTube Channel
- The three presentations are available on the OzonAction Meeting Portal
For more information:
Mr. Ayman Eltalouny, Partners’ Coordinator, UNEP OzonAction
Email: ayman.eltalouny[at]un.org
Mr. Ezra Clark, Capacity Building Manager, UNEP OzonAction
Email: ezra.clark[at]un.org
